WEBSTER GROVES - Webster University used a strong defensive effort here Tuesday evening to post a three-set victory over Principia College (25-12, 25-15, 25-16) in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action at Grant Gymnasium.

With the victory, the Gorloks snapped its three-match losing skid and improved its record to 3-3 overall on the year and 1-2 in the SLIAC. In addition, the win also moved Webster to a 3-0 at home this season. Principia fell to 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the SLIAC with the loss. 

In Tuesday's match, Webster held the Panthers, who came into the match tied for first in the league standings with Westminster (Mo.) College, to an -.006 hitting percentage and recorded 106 digs and had five blocks in the win. It marked the first time Webster had held an opponent to a minus hitting percentage since limiting Spalding to a -.061 percentage last season.

Leading the way defensively for the Gorloks was sophomore libero Kristen Farrah (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell), who recorded 36 of WU's 106 digs. In addition to Farrah, sophomore outside hitter Samantha Kruse (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) added 25 digs, along with seven kills and hit .250, while senior right side hitter Samantha Budrovich (St. Louis, Mo./Lutheran South) posted her second double-double of the year as she had 10 kills and a career-high 21 digs. 

Senior outside hitter Torie Grassi (St. Louis, Mo./Rosati-Kain) had three blocks and added six kills, while junior outside hitter Sarah Jacobs (Carbondale, Ill./Murphysboro) tied a career high with eight kills and hit a season best .462. 

The first set was close early on as the two teams took turns holding the lead until the Gorloks used a 15-1 run to take a 22-8 lead. The run was keyed by three kills from Kruse. After WU pushed in front 24-9, the Panthers would score three consecutive points, before Grassi sealed Webster's 25-12 win with her third and final kill of the set. In the set, WU hit .204 and held PC to an -.037 hitting percentage.

Principia would score the first three points of the second set and led 3-1 when the Gorloks used an 11-4 run to take a 12-7 lead. After a service error by the Gorloks brought PC within four at 12-8, WU responded with an 8-3 run keyed by three kills from Grassi to push out to a 20-11 advantage. PC would score three of the next five points to pull within 21-14, the Gorloks would close the set with a 4-1 run to earn a 25-15 win and take a 2-0 lead in the match. WU's closing run was aided by two kills from Budrovich and capped by a Jacobs kill. In the set, PC hit .-.038, while the Gorloks hit .233. 

Leading 2-0 in the match, Webster jumped in front 3-0 in the third set and led 10-2 when the Panthers used a 4-2 run to drop WU's lead to 12-6. WU, though, would use an 8-3 run and capped the run with a kill by junior outside hitter Mayghen Mugele (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) to take a 20-9 lead. The Panthers would answer by scoring six of the next seven points to pull within 21-15. That would be as close as PC would get as the Gorloks closed out the set and match by tallying four of the final five points to post a 25-16 win. The win was sealed with a kill from junior middle hitter Taylor Kissel (St. Louis, Mo./Lutheran South). In the set, WU hit .200, while PC hit .064. 

Hayden Warner led the way for the Panthers with nine kills and hit a team-best .135. On defense, the Panthers had 77 digs as reigning SLIAC Defensive Player of the Week Mia Gill had 25 of those digs. In addition to Gill, Sophia Hathaway had 18 digs and eight assists. 

Along with Budrovich's double-double, senior setter Kelsey Hamann (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) posted her fourth double-double of the season with 18 assists and 13 digs, while junior setter Jenna Rodriguez (Smithton, Ill./Freeburg) added 13 digs, five digs and an ace. 

The Gorloks will look to add to its win streak this weekend as they travel to Rock Island, Ill., to compete at the Augustana  Invitational. Webster will open the two-day event with a 7 p.m. match on Friday, Sept. 14 against Loras, before facing Alma (Mich.) and Augustana (Ill.) at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. respectively on Saturday, Sept. 15.