MADISON, Wis. – An offensive funk kept the Edgewood College volleyball team from beating Lakeland in a 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-21) loss on Senior Night as they couldn't overcome a .067 hitting night in defeat.
Seniors Renee Meister led the team with seven kills and Haley Schwenn nearly completed her seventh double-double of the season with 11 assists and nine digs, but it wasn't enough on a night where Meister, Schwenn, Savannah Koester, Mackenzie Hannan, and Emily Chaussee were recognized pre-game for their decorated careers at Edgewood College.
Despite the loss, the Eagle quintet has seen plenty of success after winning one NACC championship in 2015 and compiling an overall record of 77-51, 34-8 in the NACC over their four seasons.
The Eagles (12-14, 6-3 NACC) would have almost assured themselves a spot in the NACC tournament with tonight's win, but got off to a bad start in a first set battle. Leading 23-22 after Erika Van Engen's fourth kill, Edgewood College surrendered three straight points to the Muskies (10-17, 5-4 NACC) in an opening set loss that featured a match-high eight ties and six lead changes. The Eagle offense nearly pulled it off after seven aces, including two each by Sarah Uczen and Amanda Meister, but only mustered 10 kills.
In the second set, the Muskies utilized two kills and an attack error to break a 15-all tie and take the lead for good at 18-15. The Eagles gave up a pair of kills to Shelby Welsh, who finished with a match-high 14 kills, to drop set two.
The Muskies nearly led all of set three after the Eagles hit -.026 and allowed Lakeland to post a .278 hitting percentage.
Junior Erika Van Engen added six kills and hit a season-best .375 as the most efficient Eagle. Senior Emily Chaussee, sidelined for most of the season after an early injury, started the match and served the first point before being subbed out in a neat moment for one of the best two-way players in Eagle history.
Next up the Eagles host a triangular with Marian and North Central (Minn.) tomorrow, October 21 at noon and 4:00 p.m., respectively, in the Edgedome.
