DUBUQUE, IOWA – Women's Volleyball returned to the courts Friday after a well-earned rest. They resumed their nonconference slate with the Wartburg Knights and the Gustavus Adolphus Gusties. The Eagles (3-3) rallied to take down the Knights (5-2) 3-2 (20-25, 25-23, 19-25, 25-21, 15-10) in the first match. Against the receiving votes Gusties (8-1), Gustavus Adolphus earned a 3-0 (25-20, 25-13, 25-18).
MATCH ONE: EDGEWOOD UNIVERSITY 3, WARTBURG 2 (20-25, 25-23, 19-25, 25-21, 15-10)
- The Knights defense proved to be smothering out of the gate as they took a commanding 6-1 lead early. A 7-2 rally late by the Eagles pushed them within 19-17, but four in a row to close the set had Wartburg up 1-0 for the match.
- The Edgewood University offense clawed back into the match in set two, helping the Eagles nurse slim advantages early. After the squads exchanged 4-0 blows in the middle of the frame, a 6-2 follow-up from the Knights had them up 19-16. A 6-1 response from Edgewood University put them back in the driver's seat 22-20, and a 3-1 finisher would even the match.
- Wartburg swung momentum back in their court in the third frame. They launched ahead 5-1 and never looked back, outhitting the Eagles .190-to-.061 to regain the match lead.
- In a must-win fourth set, Edgewood University's offense fueled a 7-3 start to the frame. While the Knights would draw even 8-8 on a 5-1 job, the Eagles' offense stormed back with five unanswered points and a 13-8 edge. Wartburg would regain control of the match with five straight kills late and a 18-17 margin, but Edgewood University would pull away on a 8-3 rally to force a fifth set.
- The Eagles left little room for doubt in the tiebreaker set once again. They never trailed, leading by as many as five points and outhitting the Knights .182 to -.045 as they won their third-straight match.
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Katie Borchert swung for 19 kills on a .237 hitting percentage. She earned a double-double with 11 digs.
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Abbey Eivins also earned a double-double with 21 assists and 11 digs.
- Four Edgewood University players in total had double-digit digs.
Mia Hinkamper led the way with 17, while
Jennacy Wille contributed 15 of her own.
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Nida Zukauskaite posted 12 kills in the victory, while
Kate Gunderson tallied 14 assists.
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Molly Amendt paced the Eagles with three blocks.
- Peyton Robinson anchored a tough Wartburg defense with 26 digs. Four Wartburg players posted double-digit digs, while three had double-digit kills.
- Whitney Klyn recorded a 11-kill, 17-dig double-double, as did Sophie Sedgwick with 23 assists and 11 digs.
MATCH TWO: RV GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS 3, EDGEWOOD UNIVERSITY 0 (25-20, 25-13, 25-18)
- After the two teams battled to an 11-11 tie, the Gusties took over the first set on a 6-1 rally. Three in a row pulled the Eagles within two, but a 6-2 response from Gustavus Adolphus all but put the first set in their column.
- The Gusties outhit Edgewood University .296 to -.161 in the second set as they earned a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
- The Eagles defense helped piece together a 6-3 edge early in the third frame, but a 10-2 burst from Gustavus Adolphus propelled them ahead. While a 4-0 run from Edgewood University pushed them within 15-14 and hung tough, a late 6-1 sprint from the Gusties closed out the set and match.
- Gustavus Adolphus outhit the Eagles .226-to-.010.
- Macie Malchow led all hitters in the match with 4 aces. Logan Brent swung for 10 kills.
- Maren Sundberg locked down the back line for the Gusties with 21 digs.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Borchert's 19 kills against the Knights were a season and career best for the senior.
- Amendt's three blocks versus Wartburg were a new personal high.
- The Eagles have won back-to-back outings against the Knights.
UP NEXT
Edgewood University will conclude their stay in Iowa with St. Olaf tomorrow. First serve is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.
