Box Score
Photo Gallery
MADISON, Wis. - Changes are happening in the Todd Wehr Edgedome. An Eagle program that hasn't had a winning season in 10 years, is playing confident, fundamentally sound volleyball in this Paul Schlomer's fourth season as head coach. The latest opponent to witness the new Eagle volleyball program was Maranatha Baptist, who was swept out of the Edgedome in three straight sets 25-12, 25-22, 25-23, on Tuesday night.
Edgewood College (11-11, 4-1 NAC) came out hitting on all cylinders from the first serve of the match. Middle hitter Brittany Bylsma opened the first set with two kills on the first nine points to give the Eagles a 7-2 lead. The Eagles would slowly extend their lead to 19-12 before Ellie Peckham would hammer out two kills, including the final point of the set. Mallory Palmer had four kills in the set on her way to a team-high 12 for the night. The Eagles hit a blistering .433 with 14 kills and just one error in the first set.
Maranatha Baptist (7-11, 1-4 NAC) regained their footing in set two. The Eagles and Crusaders were never separated by more than two points until the last rally of the set. The Crusaders held a 16-14 advantage until kills by Palmer and Abbi Schultz coupled with two Maranatha Baptist errors gave the Eagles an 18-16 lead. The Crusaders rallied right back with a block by Stephanie Slobodian and Keelin Nissley to re-take a 19-18 lead. However, Bylsma and Schultz would team up for a block of their own and the Eagles would score seven of the final 10 points of the set.
The Eagles seemed to be in control of set three, leading 16-10 after a kill by Palmer, and bringing up match point at 24-19 on another kill for the freshman from Poynette. However, the Crusaders had one more rally left in them. Torey DeLozier, who led Maranatha Baptist with 12 kills and four blocks, put down one of each to bring her team to within a point at 24-23. After an Edgewood College timeout, the Eagles drew up a play for Palmer who hammered home the decisive point off a set by Peckham.
Edgewood College needs one more victory this season to surpass the 2003 team's total of 11; the last Eagle team to have double digits in wins. The Eagles haven't been .500 or better this late in the season since 1998, the last year that Edgewood College posted a winning record (18-16).
Edgewood College faces a crucial road test this weekend, with back-to-back matches at Benedictine University and Aurora University. The Eagles will face Benedictine on Friday night and then had down the road to play Aurora less than 16 hours later on Saturday morning.
