The Webster University volleyball lost its first two matches at the Emory University National Invitational Tournament, falling to both Birmingham Southern College and Berry College, 3-0, on October 27 in Atlanta, GA.  The Gorloks weren't able to keep up the with either Southern's or Berry's attacks as they lost, 25-23, 25-16, and 25-16 in the opener, and 25-23, 25-16, and 25-14 in the nightcap.  The tournament features a very competitive field from across the Southeastern U.S.

Against Birmingham Southern, Webster took a 6-3 lead in the early going in set one.  The Panthers would tie it up at 11-11, then the teams exchanged points on 12 consecutive possessions as the teams were tied 12 more times till the score reached 23-23.  Unfortunately, Southern closed out the set on a kill and Webster error, winning 25-23.  The Panthers hit at a .220 pct. vs. the Gorloks .103, with a 19-9 kill advantage for the set.

In set two Southern came out hitting at a sizzling rate, with a .545 attack pct. on its first 22 attempts with only one error, and built a 22-14 lead.  The Gorloks were hitting much better themselves at .250 but couldn't match the Panthers pace as Southern won set two, 25-16.  

Webster took a 4-1 lead in set three, with three kills by Samantha Budrovich (JR, St. Louis, MO/Lutheran South) leading the way.  But Southern had an 11-2 run to take a 12-6 advantage, as Webster called a timeout.  The Panthers extended the lead to 17-8 before a Kristen Farrah (SO, St. Charles, MO/Francis Howell) kill started a 4-0 Webster run to make it 17-12.  But Southern regained its momentum to take a 20-13 lead before another Webster timeout.  But the Panthers would go on to take the set, 25-16, and the match.

The Gorloks couldn't match the Panthers hitting prowess on the afternoon as Southern finished hit .275 in the third set and wound up at .302 for the match.  Southern committed only three attack errors over the last two sets.  Budrovich led Webster with nine kills as she hit at a .364 pace, committing only one error.  Ashley Robinson (SR, Bloomington, IL/Bloomington) had a team-high 15 assists and Maria Soffner (SR, St. Louis, MO/Incarnate Word Academy) and Farrah each had 12 digs.

With the 12 digs in the match, Soffner now has 1078 career digs for Webster, moving her into 10th place on the Gorloks' all-time high list.

Like the match against Southern, the bout with Berry started in a similar fashion in set one.  The teams dooked it out…after the Vikings had a 6-5 lead and the Gorloks pulled out in front, 8-7, neither team had larger than a two- point.  The teams were tied nine times until the score rested at 23-23.  Berry had a pair of kills to take the set, 25-23.

The action was so fast-paced and the set played so close, there were only two timeouts, one by each team, the entire set.  Webster only had five attack errors and had four total blocks, one solo and six assists, to none for Berry.

It was a different story in the final two sets as the Vikings overpowered the Gorloks.  Berry downed Webster 25-16 and 25-14 as the Vikings attack took over.  The Gorloks were down 11-10 in set two when Berry outscored Webster 15-6 to take the set, slamming down 11 kills in the run.
 
Berry took a 12-4 lead in set three, and thought Webster whittled the deficit down to 15-10, the Vikings extended it to 20-10 and cruised to the 25-14 final.  Berry had a 36-15 edge in kills over the final two sets, and outhit Webster, .211 to .107.

Hannah Rowold (SR, Piedmont, MO/Clearwater) led the Gorloks with six kills and Jenna Rodriguez (SO, Freeburg, IL/Freeburg) had a team-high nine assists.  Soffner piled 23 more digs onto her career total.

Webster is 17-10 overall on the year.  Birmingham-Southern is now 17-7, with two wins on the day.  Berry, ranked #24 nationally coming into the tournament, splits with a loss earlier to Randolph-Macon. They are now 24-5.

Webster will finish up in the tournament on October 28 when they face the Washington & Lee (VA) Generals, who are 21-8, and the host Emory Eagles, who are 22-5 and ranked eighth nationally.