Days might be better, but its hard to imagine the Webster University volleyball team having a better one as it swept Iowa Wesleyan University and nemesis...and host...Greenville University, 3-0 each, on September 16 at Greenville, IL.  Webster has won seven straight and in first place is in the SLIAC at 7-0.

In their first set win vs. Greenville, Gorloks took an 8-3 lead before the Panthers pulled even at 11-11.  The teams traded points until, with a 21-20 lead, Webster took three straight as kills by Sarah Jacobs (SO, Carbondale, IL/Murphysboro) and Kristen Farrah (FR, St. Charles, MO/Francis Howell) to helped the Gorloks reach set point at 24-20.  But Greenville responded with four straight points of their own to tie it at 24-24.  A kill by Emi Beining (SR, Festus, MO/Lutheran South) and a Panther error put the set away for the Gorloks at 26-24.  Webster had two block solos and six block assists as the Gorloks controlled the net.  Rachel Mencel (SR, Colchester, IL/West Prairie) had a block solo and two block assists in the set.

Greenville took a 4-0 lead in set two before Webster settled in and pulled within one, at 6-5.  Down, 14-13, Webster had a 7-1 run to take a 20-15 lead.  Webster continued its dominance at the net, including a kill and solo block by Mencel, and a block by both Mencel and Farrah.  The Panthers reeled off four straight points to close to within one at 20-19, as Webster took a timeout.  A kill by Farrah made it 21-19, and a kill by Jacobs made it 22-20.  Another kill by Farrah and a Panther error put Webster at set point, 24-22, and a kill by Samantha Kruse (FR, Waterloo, IL/Waterloo) gave the Gorloks the set win at 25-23.  Webster held a 9-2 edge in total blocks after two sets.

The Panthers came out strong in set three, taking a 7-2 lead early.  A service ace by Kruse, and kills by Farrah, Jacobs, and Torie Grassi (JR, St. Louis, MO/Rosati-Kain) gave Webster an 11-10 lead.  Two more kills by Kruse and ones by Kelsey Hamann (JR, Waterloo, IL/Waterloo) and Farrah extended the lead to 19-14.  Greenville crept within two, at 19-16, but Webster quickly ran off three more points, including another kill by Farrah, to make it 22-16.  Greenville was going to go quietly and reeled off five straight to close within one, at 22-21.  Two kills by Hamann and one by Beining finished off the Panthers as Webster won, 25-22.

Webster wound up with 10 blocks to Greenville's 3 as its play at the net contributed to the sweep.  Farrah wound up with a team-high 11 kills, a .333 attack pct., and nine digs.  Hamann had four kills and 13 assists, and Kruse had four kills and 12 digs.  Mencel finished with four solo blocks and four block assists.

Greenville had beaten Webster eight of their last nine meetings, with the Gorloks lone win coming at Greenville last September.

The Gorloks set the stage for the showdown with Greenville with a 3-0 win over Iowa Wesleyan University in their first match of the day.  Webster came out like gangbusters in the first set, getting 13 kills while hitting at a .385 pct. and winning the set, 25-14.  The second set was a tougher affair, with the Gorloks prevailing, 25-20, before the coasted to a 25-11 third set win. As Webster compiled a 6-0 record to open the SLIAC schedule, the Gorloks only dropped one set in those six wins.

Grassi and Beining each had eight kills in the match, and Kruse added seven. Beining added a block solo and block assist in the win.  Hamann had a team-high 19 assists and Maria Soffner (SR, Creve Coeur, MO/Incarnate Word Academy) led with 15 digs.

Webster had won seven straight and is 7-0 in the SLIAC and 7-3 overall.  Greenville, the coaches' pre-season favorite to win the SLIAC, falls to 4-2 and 8-2 overall.  Webster was picked third in the coaches' poll.

Webster will host Illinois College on September 19 at Grant Gym, then will travel to Fontbonne University on September 21 to continue the 'Battle of Big Bend'.