MADISON, Wis. – Women's Volleyball wrapped up their four-match homestand with a NACC showdown Thursday evening. They hosted the St. Norbert Green Knights at the Todd Wehr Edgedome for Senior Night. The Eagles (18-6, 9-0 NACC) hung tough after a rough first set and put together an impressive 3-1 (13-25, 25-22, 25-21, 26-24) victory against the Green Knights (17-8, 6-2).
HOW IT HAPPENED
- St. Norbert had firm control of the opening set. They outhit Edgewood University .367 to -.121 as they cruised to a 1-0 lead in the match.
- After the Green Knights took an early lead, the Eagles offense found their rhythm in a 6-1 rally to push ahead 9-7. A 5-1 rally pulled St. Norbert back to a 14-11 advantage. Down 20-16 late, seven unanswered including five-straight aces from
Abbey Eivins anchored a 9-2 burst to even the match 1-1.
- The squads exchanged small runs as the match lead hung in the balance in the third frame, Edgewood University once again found their wings late, an 8-3 run pulling them ahead 21-18. While the Green Knights would close within 22-21, three points in a row featuring back-to-back blocks put the Eagles in the driver's seat of the match.
- A 7-2 run had Edgewood University rolling in the fourth set ahead 13-9. St. Norbert mounted a furious comeback of their own, blowing past the Eagles on a 10-3 spring for a 19-16 edge. Edgewood University would find themselves with their backs at the wall and the Green Knights primed for a fifth set ahead 24-21, but
Jennacy Wille held serve and the Eagles pieced together a masterpiece of a 5-0 rally with three blocks and a pair of kills to flip the script and clinch a thriller.
- While St. Norbert held a .169-to-.089 advantage in hitting percentage, Edgewood University posted 16-to-11 and 9-to-4 edges in blocks and aces respectively.
- Three Eagles posted double-digit kills.
Natalie Murphy paced the group with 12 kills while adding six kills.
Molly Amendt added 10 of her own.
- Eivins shined with a 22-assist, 11-dig double-double with five aces.
Kate Gunderson earned 13 assists while
Mia Hinkamper tallied 16 digs.
- Katei Borchert recorded a 10-kill, 10-dig double-double.
-
Payton Millin anchored a blocking game that proved to be crucial with nine blocks.
- Mari Szews posted 11 kills and five blocks.
- Heidi Colburn continued her excellent play as the Green Knights setter with a match-high 40 assists.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The match was Senior Night, celebrating the careers and accomplishments of Borchert, Hinkamper, Gunderson,
Kennedy Kabat,
Gabby Hack, and Wille.
- The 16 blocks were a season-high for Edgewood University and tied for fourth on the single-match record books (UW-Oshkosh, 10/01/2024).
- Murphy's 12 kills and six blocks were both personal bests.
- Millin's nine blocks and Eivins' five aces were career records.
- The Eagles have won five in a row against St. Norbert.
UP NEXT
Edgewood University will fly south for an avian match up as they continue their final stretch of NACC action. They'll take on Benedictine down in Lisle, Ill. on Saturday. First serve is scheduled for noon.
