The anticipated re-match didn't go as planned as the Webster University women's volleyball team lost to Greenville University, 3-0, on September 28 at Grant Gymnasium. The Gorloks, who defeated Greenville 3-0 earlier this season, suffered their first loss in SLIAC play and saw a 10-match win streak go by the boards.
Greenville took a 5-0 lead to open
set one, with Webster quickly calling timeout. Greenville made it 7-0 before a Panther error made it 7-1. Greenville was up 9-2 when Samantha Kruse (FR, Waterloo, IL/Waterloo) gave Webster its first offensive point on a kill. The Panthers extended the lead to 15-6 as Webster called another timeout. Down, 19-9, Webster closed to within 19-13, but a Greenville kill ended the run. A Torie Grassi (JR, St. Louis, MO/Rosati-Kain) dump for a kill closed Webster to within six, at 21-15, but the third out of four Gorlok service errors in the set ended any buzz as the Panthers took the set, 25-16.
Greenville took an early lead in
set two as well, at 6-2. After a Panther service error, and kills by Grassi and Taylor Kissel (SO, St. Louis, MO/Lutheran South), Webster tied it at 9-9, then took a 12-9 lead on back to back Greenville errors. The Panthers called time to slow down the Gorlok momentum and would tie it at 15-15, and pull ahead, 18-15, as Webster called a timeout. Samantha Budrovich (JR, St. Louis, MO/Lutheran South) had back to back kills for the Gorloks but the Panthers answered with four straight for a 22-17 lead. Greenville would win 25-18 to take a 2-0 lead.
Webster took a 3-0 lead to open
set three, but Greenville would tie it at 6-6 and the battle was on. A Panther error and Budrovich kill gave Webster a lead but Greenville went on a 6-1 run to open up a 12-9 lead. After a Webster timeout a Grassi kill started a Gorlok rally as they tied it at 13-13, and were still knotted at 18-18. A Panther service ace and Gorlok error gave Greenville a 22-19 lead, but a Panther service ace and error made it 22-21. A Webster error made it 23-21 but a kill by Grassi and Sara Evans tied it at 23-23. A Webster block by Mencel for a point gave the Gorloks set point at 24-23. But Greenville responded with three straight points for a 26-24 win for the match.
Grassi had 11 kills to lead Webster, while Kelsey Hamann (JR, Waterloo, IL/Waterloo) led with 14 assists. Maria Soffner (SR, St. Louis, MO/Incarnate Word Academy) had a team-high 20 digs.
Webster is now 9-1 in the SLIAC, still holding down first, and 10-4 overall. Webster defeated Greenville at Greenville, 3-0 on September 16.
The Gorloks 10-match win streak was the third longest in team history, tying one in 2007. Webster's longest win streak is 13 straight in 1997.
Webster continues play in the SLIAC with matches vs. MacMurray College (IL) and host Blackburn College on September 30, in Carlinville, IL.
