The Webster University volleyball team had a pair of SLIAC wins, beating Principia College 3-1 and Iowa Wesleyan University 3-0, on October 8 at Grant Gymnasium.  The Gorloks improved to 10-3 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference as senior Katie O'Toole became the Gorloks' all-time career leader in digs.

In Webster's first match of the day, vs. Principia, the Gorloks fell in a hole in set one.  Webster trailed, 4-8, but quickly tied it at 8-8.  The Panthers reeled off six straight for a 14-8 lead.  After a Webster timeout, the Panthers increased their lead to 19-12, including two Gorlok service errors.  Back to back kills by Emily Knowles (SR, Belleville, IL/Mascoutah) seemed to spark the Gorloks as they cut the deficit to 16-20.  A Principia timeout killed the Webster momentum as the Panthers went on to win the set, 25-17.

Webster trailed for most of the early going in set two before taking a lead, winning a marathon volley to pull ahead, 12-11.  At 14-14, the Gorloks had a 4-0 run to take their largest lead of the match to that point, 18-14.  A Panther timeout didn't faze the Gorloks as they increased their lead to 23-15.  A kill by Sarah Jacobs (FR, Carbondale, IL/Murphysboro) nailed it down for Webster as it won, 25-18, to tie the match.

Once again, in set three, the two teams battled back and forth with numerous lead changes and ties, with the score at 13-13.  Webster took three straight points to pull in front, 16-13.  Kills by Knowles and Macee Owen (SO, Tucson, AZ/Empire) put the Gorloks up 19-14, as they went on to win, 25-21, and take a 2-1 lead.

The Gorloks came out of the gate, firing on all pistons in set four, taking an 8-2 edge, but the Panthers quickly cut into the lead to make it, 8-6.  Webster restored order and went on a 3-0 run that prompted a Principia timeout.  Webster built a 15-7 lead but Principia answered with four points to cut the lead to 15-11.  A Jory Siebenmorgen (SR, Eureka, MO/Eureka) kill to make it 18-12 put the Gorloks firmly in control as they went on to win the set, 25-14, and the match 3-1.

Siebenmorgen had a team-high 20 kills and a .370 attack pct. in the match,  Those were personal and team game-highs on the season as well.  Knowles finished with 14 kills and four block assists.  Kelsey Hamann (SO, Waterloo, IL/Waterloo) led with 28 assists and O'Toole (SR, St. Louis, MO/Lutheran South) had a team-high 29 digs.  Jenna Rodriguez (FR, Freeburg, IL/Freeburg), playing in just her fourth match of the season, had 19 assists in three sets played.  Webster had a season game-high 61 kills for the match.

The Gorloks had an easier time in the win over Iowa Wesleyan.  Webster opened up an 8-2 lead, then 14-5, in rolling to a 25-16 win in the first set.  The Gorloks had an 8-3 lead in set two, and still led 21-16 before the Tigers closed to within 24-22.  A Wesleyan attack error gave the Gorloks the set winner, 25-22.  After taking an 8-0 lead in set three, the Gorloks romped to the 25-11 final, and won the match, 3-0.  Siebenmorgen tacked on 11 more kills to lead Webster, and Hamann had 12 assists and 12 digs in the match.

O'Toole, who started the evening in second place on the all-time leader list in digs for Webster, added 24 more vs. Wesleyan, giving her 53 on the day and 1709 for her career, easily smashing the record of 1690 held by Jordan Vehlewald (2011-14).  O'Toole will now set her sights on Webster's single season record as she will continue to move up that list with at least ten matches remaining on the season. 

It was 'Dig Pink' weekend for the volleyball team, with silent auction items, raffles and contests held to raise money.  All proceeds from the weekend's activities went to the SideOut Foundation, a volleyball-themed organization devoted to the battle against breast cancer.

Webster is now 10-3 in the SLIAC and, in third place, and 14-7 overall.  The Gorloks are back home on October 11 to host Westminster College in a SLIAC showdown.  Webster lost in a tie-breaker set to the Blue Jays on September 24.  Webster has a nine-day gap between matches, travelling to Louisville, KY, during its fall break to play Spalding University on October 20, then Transylvania University (KY) and Kean University (NJ) on October 22 in Lexington, KY.