DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Edgewood College volleyball team squeezed every last ounce of play out of their trip to the University of Dubuque Triangular. The Eagles went the full five sets in both of their matches, falling to UW-Oshkosh 3-2, but bouncing back to defeat the host Spartans 3-2.
In the opening match, Edgewood College (3-3) dominated the first set 25-18, hitting .280 led by Elizabeth Evans three kills. However, UW-Oshkosh (6-0) squeezed out a narrow 27-25 win in set two and claimed the next set 25-18 to take a 2-1 lead. Evans pulled out another strong set in the fourth, scoring four kills without an error as the Eagles evened the match with a 27-25 win. Kaitlyn Rabel also had four kills in the fourth set. Unfortunately, the fifth set belonged to the Titans who blew out to an 11-4 lead and ended the match with a 15-8 victory.
Evans led the Eagles with 12 kills, while freshman Emily Chaussee scored 10 kills. Jordan Winkler totaled nine kills and a team-high 20 digs. Rachel Thomsen led the team with 24 assists, while Haley Schwenn added 17 assists and three service aces. Renee Meister had four blocks to lead the Eagles.
The second match went deep into the late hours of the night, as the Eagles and the University of Dubuque (0-6) went beyond the necessary 25 points in both of the first two sets. Edgewood College trailed 13-6 in the opening set before rallying for a 27-25 win. In the second set, the Eagles came from behind again and had three set points before the Spartans scored the final three points of the set for a 28-26 victory. Set three was nearly a carbon copy of the first, as Dubuque raced to an 18-11 lead before the Eagles bounced back. Rachel Tesch served four straight points for a 24-22 lead, which turned into a 25-23 set win. After Dubuque took the fourth set 25-20, the Eagles pulled the match out in their 10th set of the night with a 15-13 win. Savannah Koester hammered home the final point of the match.
Chaussee led the team with 11 kills while Winkler and Evans had nine kills each. Tesch scored 33 digs and three service aces from her libero position while Thomsen and Schwenn each had 23 assists. Meister had a team-high five blocks.
Edgewood College will take the weekend off, but will return to action for their home opener in the Edgedome on September 10. The Eagles will face UW-Platteville at 7:00 p.m. in a match that can be seen live on EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com.
