The Webster University volleyball team dug itself in a hole, but a comeback win in its second set catapulted it to a 3-1 win over Fontbonne University, on October 4 at Grant Gymnasium.  The Gorloks improved to 12-1 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference as they hold onto first place in the conference. 

Fontbonne took a 2-0 lead to start set one, but a kill by Emi Beining (SR, Festus, MO/Lutheran South) triggered a 4-0 run by Webster to pull ahead.  The teams traded points, with Webster holding short leads until Fontbonne grabbed the lead at 11-10.  A Taylor Kissel (SO, St. Louis, MO/Lutheran South) kill tied it up at 15-15 and and an Ashley Robinson (SR, Bloomington, IL/Bloomington) kill gave the Gorloks the lead again, at 17-16.

Another kill by Kissel, after a diving Maria Soffner (SR, St. Louis, MO/Incarnate Word Academy) dig, made it 20-17 and a Griffin timeout followed.  Fontbonne scored two quick points, but a Griffin error and Kristen Farrah (FR, St. Charles, MO/Francis Howell) service ace made it 22-19.  Two more Griffin points prompted a Webster timeout as the Gorloks held a 22-21 lead.  Back to back Fontbonne kills tied it up at 23-23, as Webster called another timeout, but to no avail as Fontbonne won the set, 25-23.

Fontbonne came out in set two and took it to the Gorloks again early, taking a 9-5 lead, forcing a Webster timeout.  Kills by Sarah Jacobs (SO, Carbondale, IL/Carbondale) and Farrah, a service ace by Soffner, and a point off a block by Beining tied it up in a hurry at 9-9.  A kill by Farrah gave Webster the lead, but it was temporary as Fontbonne scored five of the next six points for a 14-11 advantage.  The Griffins still led, 19-16 as Webster took another timeout.

A kill by Farrah and Griffin error made the deficit one at 20-19.  Another Griffin error and a kill by Samantha Budrovich (Jr, St. Louis, MO/Lutheran South) gave the Gorloks a 21-20 lead, but Fontbonne would tie at 22-22, and again at 23-23.  Back to back kills by Kissel completed the comeback and sealed the set win, 25-23. The score was tied nine times in the set. 

The third set started no different, with the teams battling back and forth, exchanging points.  The teams were tied at 10-10, as a Farrah kill put Webster on top, 11-10.  After an error and Budrovich kill, Webster was up 13-10, but it took a Kissel kill to tie it up at 15-15.  Robinson served three straight points as Webster pulled ahead, 19-16.  Two Griffin errors led to a Fontbonne timeout with Webster up, 21-17.  Another Farrah kill made it 23-17, and a Griffin error put the Gorloks at set point.  One more Farrah kill finished off the set at 25-19.  The score was tied nine times in the set as well.

Set four was more of the same, with the teams tied at 6-6 as points were traded early.  A kill by Kissel, a Fontbonne error, and a kill by Farrah put Webster up, 9-6.  With the Gorloks up, 11-7, the Griffins called timeout.  Back to back kills by Beining extended Webster's lead to 14-8. Webster still led, 17-12 after another kill by Kissel.  With the Gorloks up, 21-17, a kill by Farrah and a Griffin error gave Webster its biggest lead of the set at 23-17.  One more Kissel kill ended the set at 25-18, and the match, 3-1.

Farrah and Kissel each led with 12 kills.  Farrah had an attack pct. of .409 as Kissel hit at .269.  Beining had 11 kills and one solo block and two block assists.  Jenna Rodriguez (SO, Freeburg, IL/Freeburg) had a team-high 17 assists and Soffner led with 23 digs in the match.  With her 23 digs on the night, Soffner has moved into 15th place on Webster's all-time list.  She now has 916 digs for her career.

The Gorloks had defeated the Griffins on September 21, 3-0, at Clayton, MO.  The Gorloks had a 21-match win streak vs. the Griffins before being snapped in October 2016 in a 3-2 loss at Fontbonne.  Webster now leads the overall series between the two schools, 37-21.

Webster sits atop the SLIAC standings at 12-1 and are 13-4 overall.  Fontbonne falls to 3-8 and 4-11. 

Webster faces Thomas More College (KY) and host Washington University in the Ankle Active Invite on October 6 in Clayton, MO.  The Gorloks then travel to Elsah, IL, on October 10 to face Principia College.