The Webster University volleyball team lost a knock-down, drag-out match at Fontbonne University, 3-2, on October 26 in Clayton, MO. The Griffins defeated the Gorloks for the first time in 10 years, winning 23-25, 26-24, 26-18, 21-25, and 15-12 in the tie-breaker set.
The Gorloks got off to a 10-4 lead in
set one, with Macee Owen (SO, Tucson, AZ/Empire), Torie Grassi (SO, St. Louis, MO/Rosati-Kain) and Jory Siebenmorgen (SR, Eureka, MO/Eureka) all contributing with two kills each. A five-point run by the Griffins pulled them within one, but the Gorloks pulled back in front by six, 15-9. Fontbonne would gradually erode Webster's lead and the teams were tied at 23-23, after the Griffins recorded three straight kills. Kills by Emily Knowles (SR, Belleville, IL/Mascoutah) and Emi Beining (JR, Festus, MO/Lutheran South) gave Webster a 25-23 set win.
In
set two, Fontbonne led 12-8 before a five-point Webster run gave the Gorloks a 13-12 lead. The Griffins weren't going anywhere as they came right back and took a 17-14 lead. Two straight service aces by Ashley Robinson (JR, Bloomington, IL/Bloomington) helped Webster regain the lead at 20-18, but a pair of Webster attack errors let Fontbonne tie the set up at 22-22. The Griffins would go on to win the set, 26-24, and tie the match at 1-1.
Fontbonne opened up an early 6-3 lead in
set three, then increased it to 11-6 before a Webster timeout. The Griffins continued to build on their lead, taking an 18-11 lead, and would go on to win the set, 25-18, and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Webster reasserted itself in
set four, taking a 7-2 lead, but Fontbonne chipped away and was just trailing 13-9 before Webster pulled ahead 18-11, forcing a Griffin timeout. The Griffins responded with four straight points, leading to a Webster timeout. The Gorloks hung of for a 25-21 set win, with kills by Knowles, Grassi, and a pair by Siebenmorgen closing it out and sending the match to a tie-breaker.
In the
tie-breaker, the teams were tied at 4-4 early, but Fontbonne took a 10-5 lead. Webster edged to within two, at 12-10, prompting a Fontbonne timeout. The Gorloks got within one, at 13-12, before the Griffins took the next two points for the set, 15-12, and the match.
Knowles and Siebenmorgen tied for the team high in kills with 15. Knowles had a .345 attack percent for the match and also finished with one solo block and four block assists. The four block assists give her 138 on her career, moving her into 12th place on Webster's all-time high list. Knowles passed Webster assistant coach Megan Floarke (2005-07), who had 137 for her career. Next up at #11 is Sarah Rusnak ((2007-08), with 149.
Owens finished with 14 kills and Katie O'Toole (SR, St. Louis, MO/Lutheran South) had a team-high 24 digs. Kelsey Hamann (SO, Waterloo, IL/Waterloo), for the second straight match, set a personal and team season-high for assists, with 37 on the night.
Webster is 11-5 in the SLIAC, one game behind third place Spalding at 12-4. The Gorloks are 16-10 overall. Fontbonne is 6-9 in the SLIAC and 10-15 overall. Webster saw a 21-match win streak end against Fontbonne, dating back to 2006.
The Gorloks head to Rock Island, IL, to participate in the Pumpkin Bash Tournament hosted by Augustana College on October 28-29. Webster will play four matches including a SLIAC tilt with Iowa Wesleyan University. The Gorloks complete their regular season on November 2, hosting MacMurray College on Senior Night at Grant Gymnasium.
