The 'Queen' is alive.  The Webster University women's volleyball team handily recaptured the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference crown, defeating Greenville College (IL), 3-0, on November 5 at Grant Gymnasium.  The Gorloks had a streak of four consecutive titles snapped in 2010, but snatched it back in convincing style.  Webster had defeated Westminster College, 3-0, earlier in the day to advance to the championship.  The Gorloks have won a record nine titles in the 17-year history of the tournament.

Webster's win advances them as an automatic qualifier for the NCAA III Championships.  The NCAA Division III Volleyball Selection Show will be streamed live on www.ncaa.com on Monday, Nov. 8, at 10 a.m.  The volleyball team and coaches will gather at the Sunnen Lounge to see exactly where they will land in the bracket.  Students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend.

The Gorloks established control over the match, jumping to a 17-4 lead in the first set vs. the Panthers, before winning 25-14.  Stumbling a bit to open the second set, Webster fell behind 10-4, but reeled off nine straight points to take the lead before winning, 25-19.  The teams see-sawed back and forth in the third set, with neither trailing by more than two points, as they were knotted up at 18-18.  Webster pulled ahead 24-21 before Greenville closed to 24-23.  Not leaving any opening for a Panther comeback, the Gorloks shut the door with the game deciding point as pandemonium ensued on the court.

In first round action, Webster dispatched Westminster College, 25-20, 25-14, and 25-23.  Jordan Vehlewald (FR, Lafayette HS) was named the Most Valuable Player for the 2011 Tournament.  Joining her on the team were Liz Abraham (SO, Hermann HS, MO) and Jenny Howard (FR, Duchesne HS).  Howard led the Gorloks with 13 kills in the match vs. Greenville, and Vehlewald was right behind at 12. 

The Gorloks strong season did not go unnoticed in other ways.  Coach Merry Graf was named Co-Coach of the Year, for the third time in her career at Webster.  Howard was named the 2011 SLIAC Volleyball Newcomer of the Year, and grabbed a spot on the SLIAC All-Conference First Team.  Caroline Kargus (SR, Mehlville HS), Emily Ratkewicz (FR, Granite City HS, IL), and Vehlewald all earned spots on the SLIAC All-Conference Second Team. 

Allie O'Toole (FR, Lutheran South HS) and Gretchen Rieger (SR, Wesclin HS, IL) were Honorable Mention All-Conference.  Rieger was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team and the volleyball team as a whole was a co-winner of the SLIAC Sportsmanship Award for 2011.

The Gorloks improved to 19-12, and now they await their NCAA destination.