MINNEAPOLIS, Mn. — Recording a program best start to the season was the agenda for the Wartburg College Volleyball squad today as the Knights won both their matches at the Augsburg Invitational.
The Knights defeated UW-Eau Claire in the opening match in straight sets before holding off a late charge from St. Olaf to win 3-1.
Best Program Starts
With today's sweep of games, the Orange & Black have the best program start in school history at 8-0. The previous best start was under head coach
Jennifer Walker in 1998 at 7-0.
The Knights defeated #22 Augsburg on Sept. 10 in straight sets, before defeating #13 UW-Eau Claire and St. Olaf this morning.
How It Happened vs. St. Olaf (25-14; 25-15, 25-17)
Looking to make school history, the Knights had to face a test in St. Olaf in four set. The Knights took set one with 13 kills and an attacking percentage of .323. The Oles of St. Olaf fought back in the second set, forcing the set to extra points. The Knights recorded 14 kills as they fell 27-25 to St. Olaf. Sets three and four were battles for the Knights as the Knights recorded a combined 37 kills in the two sets to push the team to their best start in program history.
How It Happened vs. (#13) UW-Eau Claire (25-14; 25-15, 25-17)
Back-to-back kills from
Kylie Bildstein and a kill from
Jayme Willemssen gave the Knights an early 5-1 lead over the Blugolds of UW-Eau Claire.
Kennedy Meister recorded a kill before heading to the service line for the Knights, starting a 5-0 run early. With cruise control on in set one, the Knights recorded 17 kills for the win.
With
Katie Foster at the line, the Knights took an early 10-2 lead over the Blugolds. A
Zaiah Quirk kill extended the lead to eight (11-3) as the Blugolds struggled against the Knights offense. Bildstein recorded a kill late for the Knights as
Claire Marsh finished the set with a pair of service aces.
The Knights hit the cruise control as they opened the third and final set on a 10-4 run. Kills by Quirk and Meister extended the lead to eight as the Knights took their lead to as many as 10 on a Willemssen kill. Quirk added three final kills and a pair of kills from Meister as the Knights swept UW-Eau Claire.
Key Players
Against St. Olaf, Meister recorded 15 kills, followed by Quirk and Bildstein at 13 and 12 each. Bildstein led the Knights in blocks (4). The Knights had a combined attacking percentage of .216 against St. Olaf, with 54 kills and 19 errors.
Quirk, Meister, and Bildstein led the Knights in kills against UW-Eau Claire, as Quirk recorded 15 kills in the match. Willemssen led the team in blocks (3), as three Knights recorded two service aces. The Knights totaled 48 kills and an attacking percentage of .362.
Next Match
The Knights open American Rivers Conference action on Sept. 15 as they travel to Buena Vista. The Knights are slated to have first serve at 7:30 p.m. in Storm Lake, Iowa.
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