MADISON – Women's Volleyball returned home to the Todd Wehr Edgedome Saturday. They took on the Benedictine Eagles and the UW-River Falls Falcons. Edgewood University (18-7, 8-1 NACC) blanked Benedictine (6-19, 2-6) 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-22) before having their comeback fall short against the Falcons (17-6) 3-1 (25-16, 25-22, 20-25, 25-22).
MATCH ONE: EDGEWOOD UNIVERSITY 3, BENEDICTINE 0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-22)
- An early 6-2 rally had Benedictine ahead 7-5 early. While Edgewood University would keep within two, four unanswered kills pushed Benedictine ahead 15-11. Edgewood University surged with a 7-1 burst, finished by three aces in a row from
Shannon Rusch for a 18-16 advantage. Benedictine would pull even, but four kills in five straight points finished off the set for Edgewood University.
- A 4-0 rally from Benedictine was answered by three kills from Edgewood University as the two teams set tied 4-4 early. A 7-0 burst sent Edgewood University flying ahead 12-7. Benedictine found a response as Edgewood University sputtered, an 8-2 sprint pulling them ahead 18-17. Edgewood University once again had an answer, a 7-2 response earning them a 24-20 edge on route to a 2-0 lead.
- The squads traded tit for tat opening the third frame, but Edgewood University earned the first real lead of the set with a 5-2 run and a 14-12 lead. After the teams traded three unanswered, Benedictine hung around until a 4-0 rally had them up 22-21 late. Edgewood University would not be denied, four in a row of their own clinching the set and match.
- Edgewood University outhit Benedictine .209-to-.117. Five Edgewood University hitters had seven or more kills.
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Natalie Murphy and Reagan Seibler posted nine kills apiece.
Nida Zukauskaite and
Molly Amendt tallied eight kills each with Amendt adding three blocks.
- Rusch posted a match-high 10 digs and three aces.
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Payton Millin earned seven kills and three blocks.
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Abbey Eivins and
Laila Rasmussen had 17 and 16 assists each.
MATCH TWO: UW-RIVER FALLS 3, EDGEWOOD UNIVERSITY 1 (25-16, 25-22, 20-25, 25-22)
- The Eagles were sluggish in the first set. They were outhit .263-to-.000, with the Falcons earning 13 kills. A 6-1 UW-River Falls rally set the tone for the first frame early and finished the set similarly on a 6-1 burst.
- After the Falcons kept rolling with a 6-3 start to the second set, Edgewood University replied with a 4-1 stretch to draw even 7-7. The Eagles offense began to sputter, with a 5-1 run for UW-River Falls propelling them to a 17-13 lead. Edgewood University would chip the lead down to a single point late. The Falcons finished strong on a 3-1 run for a 2-0 lead.
- UW-River Falls took advantage of a smart lineup switch to strike early with a 5-0 sprint in the third frame. The Eagles would settle in and found their moment, offense and defense working in sync on a 9-2 rally and a 13-11 tally. While the Falcons would piece together back-to-back points here and there to claim a 19-18 edge, Edgewood University would explode to force a fourth set, a 7-1 run finishing off the set.
- Four unanswered from UW-River Falls were followed by five in a row from the Eagles as the squads were off to the races in the fourth set, Edgewood University nursing a 9-6 tally. A 5-1 stretch from the Falcons put the visitors back in the driver's seat, but a 7-2 reply for the Eagles left them ahead 18-15. UW-River Falls hit their stride at the perfect time, a 10-2 surge closing out the set and match and cutting the Edgewood University comeback short.
- The Falcons won the hitting battle .160-to-.135. They held a 9-to-5 advantage in aces while the Eagles had a slight edge in kills 51-to-50 and a bigger gap in digs 88-to-77.
- Three Edgewood University players had double-doubles. Zukauskaite earned 15 kills and 16 digs.
-Rasmussen and Eivins each recorded a double-double. Rasmussen tallied 21 assists and 12 digs while Eivins contributed 13 assists and 13 digs.
- Rusch tallied 29 digs and nine assists as she held down the fort in the back row.
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Scarlett Simkowski shined at the net with five blocks.
- Blessing Adebisi played key points for UW-River Falls, posting 14 kills on 31 attempts for a .323 hitting percentage and six blocks.
- Cora Sayotovich posted a 41-assist, 17-dig double double as she stepped up as the visitor's setter.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Simkowski's five blocks against the Falcons were a career high.
- Edgewood University has won seven in a row against Benedictine.
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Sophia Peterson's two aces against UW-River Falls matched her personal best.
UP NEXT
The Eagles will hit the road once more for a NACC showdown next Saturday. They will take on the Aurora Spartans in a rematch of last year's NACC Tournament Semifinal. First serve in the clash will take place at 1:00 p.m.
