COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – Women's Volleyball kicked off their 2025 season out west Friday as they took on a pair of strong foes. They faced off with the East Texas Baptist Tigers, ranked No. 14 in the AVCA Division III preseason poll, and the UW-Stevens Point Pointers, receiving votes in the poll. The Tigers (1-0) claimed a 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-15) sweep against the Eagles (1-1). Edgewood University rallied in the nightcap, refusing to quit in a 3-2 (20-25, 21-25, 25-15, 27-25, 15-6) victory against the Pointers (1-1).
MATCH ONE: NO. 14 ETBU TIGERS 3, EDGEWOOD UNIVERSITY 0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-15)
- After wrestling over the lead early, the Tigers struck first with a 9-1 rally to claim a 13-5 advantage. East Texas Baptist would lead by as many as nine points on route to a first set statement.
- The Eagles hung tough in set two. A 3-0 rally with a pair of kills pushed them ahead 8-7 before the Tigers put together a 6-1 response for a 13-9 edge. Edgewood University would close within 14-13, but seven unanswered from East Texas Baptist put them in the driver's seat as they claimed a 2-0 match lead.
- After four unanswered had the Eagles ahead 4-1, eight in a row from the Tigers sent them roaring ahead 9-4. Edgewood University struggled to find answers as their nationally-ranked foe clinched a sweep.
- East Texas Baptist outhit the Eagles .416-to-.122. They had a 43-to-28 advantage in kills.
- Graycee Mosley impressed for the victors. She earned a 14-kill, 10-dig double-double with three aces and a .321 hitting percentage.
- Anita Hancock tallied eight kills and five blocks.
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Katie Borchert led Edgewood University with 10 kills and a .276 hitting percentage.
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Kate Gunderson contributed 12 assists, seven digs, and four aces, leading the Eagles in all three categories.
MATCH TWO: EDGEWOOD UNIVERSITY 3, UW-STEVENS POINT 2 (20-25, 21-25, 25-15, 27-25, 15-6)
- The Pointers jumped ahead 9-3 in the first set, but the Eagles hung tough as they trimmed the edge down to 13-11. Three unanswered for UW-Stevens Point late in the set provided a key 20-15 advantage as they pushed ahead to a 1-0 victory.
- Edgewood University had momentum early in the second set with a 9-4 advantage, but the Pointers raced back to even with an 8-3 rally. The squads wrestled for control of the set, with UW-Stevens Point striking first with a 5-1 sprint to pull ahead 21-17. A pair of aces from
Mia Hinkamper would push the Eagles within 22-21, but three straight points for the Pointers closed out the second set.
- Edgewood University came to life in the third set. They soared ahead 15-8 off the back of a 6-1 rally as offense and defense were in sync. A 6-2 run closed out the third set strong as the Eagles refused to quit.
- Edgewood University carried their momentum into the fourth frame, leading 9-6 in the early salvos. UW-Stevens Point flipped the script with a 9-3 burst, pulling ahead 15-12. Down 23-18 late, the Eagles showed no quit. With little room for error, they forced extra points on a 6-1 sprint. While the Pointers would get to match point up 25-24, Edgewood University put together three unanswered to force a decisive tiebreaker set.
- Ahead 7-6 in the fifth set, the Eagles would leave no room for doubt as they completed the rally with eight points in a row to slam the door shut on an impressive comeback. They would have an advantage of .200 to -.174 in hitting percentage in the final frame.
- The Edgewood University defense shined in the comeback, holding down the UW-Stevens Point offense as they posted a .144-to-044 advantage in hitting percentage.
- Borchert and
Nida Zukauskaite formed an effective hitting tandem, swinging for 18 and 12 kills respectively.
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Payton Millin and
Natalie Murphy locked down the net with seven and six blocks respectively.
Scarlett Simkowski shined with four blocks.
- Eivins and Gunderson posted 24 and 18 assists respectively.
- Hinkamper held down the back line with 20 digs.
- Hannah Strega posted a 36-assist, 14-dig double-double.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The meeting between Edgewood University and East Texas Baptist was the first between the two women's volleyball programs.
- The Eagles have won back-to-back matches against UW-Stevens Point.
- Borchert's 18 kills were a new personal watermark.
- Amendt's eight kills against the Pointers were a career best.
- Murphy's seven kills and six blocks against UW-Stevens Point were both career highs.
UP NEXT
The Eagles will wrap up their stay out west tomorrow as they conclude the Pikes Peak Challenge. They'll take on the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds, ranked No. 22 in the nation, with first serve scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Central time. The Blugolds are 4-0 all-time against Edgewood University.
