The Webster University volleyball team, taking on Washington University at the Hilltop, lost 3-1, on September 22.  The Gorloks took it to the Bears, a perennial national power, in the opening set while suffering a tough loss.  Webster lost some steam in set two but finished strong despite Wash U winning the match.

In set one, Wash U went up, 8-2, but Webster battled back.  The Gorloks were down, 18-16, before tying the set at 20-20.  The teams were tied at, 22-22, before the Gorloks lost 25-23.  The tough loss seemed to take a bit of steam out of Webster heading into the next set.

In set two, the Gorloks saw a more dominant performance by the Bears as Wash U took a 4-0 lead and exended it to 11-3.  Two timeouts by Webster head coach Merry Graf, unfortunately, did not slow down the Bears as they went up 17-6 and 21-7 before winnin the set, 25-8.

The Gorloks came back to life in set three.  Webster was down, 3-0, before a 9-2 run gave Webster a 9-5 lead.  After a Wash U timeout, the Bears came back to take an 11-10 lead but the Gorloks answered with four straight points to take a 15-11 advantage.  Wash U closed to within 16-14 but Webster answered again, pulling ahead, 22-15, by taking six of seven points.  Leading, 24-18, and needing set point, the Gorloks allowed three straight points to make it 24-21, causing Graf to call a timeout.  After another Wash U point, a kill by Webster's Emi Beining (JR, Festus, MO/Lutheran South) gave the Gorloks the set at 25-21.

The momentum for the win carried over for Webster at the start of set four.  The Gorloks went up 5-2 before the Bears tied the set at 7-7.  Wash U would open up a 15-11 lead before a Webster timeout.  The Gorloks were down 18-14 before a four-point run, including a pair of kills by Macee Owen (SO, Tuscson, AZ/Empire) and one by Samantha Budrovich (SO, St. Louis, MO/Lutheran South) tied the set at 18-18.  After a Wash U timeout, the Bears went on a 4-1 run to take a 22-19 lead, forcing another Webster timeout.  The Gorloks cut the deficit to 22-21 but the Bears had the final three points for a 25-21 win and the match.

Jory Siebenmorgen (SR, Eureka, MO/Eureka) led Webster with seven kills while Owen and Emily Knowles (SR, Belleville, IL/Mascoutah) each had five.  Kelsey Hamann (SO, Waterloo, IL/Waterloo) and Ashley Robinson (JR, Bloomington, IL/Bloomington) each had 10 assists, and Katie O'Toole (SR, St. Louis, MO/Lutheran South had 12 digs.  Hamann chipped in with 10 digs.

The Gorloks' effort on the road against a powerhouse Bear squad had to be encouraging as they dive headlong into play in the SLIAC for 11 of the next 13 matches.  Webster is 9-5 on the season.  Washington U improves to 10-6.