ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Webster University volleyball team closed out the regular season inside the top-six conference rankings which earned a spot in the 2024 SLIAC Volleyball Tournament. The Gorloks secured the fifth seed and will travel to Spalding University on Thursday, November 14 for the quarterfinals match starting at 6:00PM eastern time in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Gorloks enter the SLIAC tournament with a conference record of 7-9 that includes victories over top-seeded Greenville and third-seeded Fontbonne University. In the past six conference matches, the Groloks have earned a split of 3-3 with victories over Eureka College, Fontbonne University, and Mississippi University for Women.
This season, the Gorloks are led offensively by the dynamic duo of first-year Eva Tarlos and sophomore Grace White. Tarlos enters the SLIAC tournament leading the team in points, kills, and service aces. The Overland Park, Kansas native had recorded 301.5 points, 223 kills, and 41 service aces.
In the points category, Tarlos is averaging 2.90 points per set that includes an average of 2.14 kills per set where she ranks sixth in the conference with a .256 hitting percentage. In addition, Tarlos has been a force defensively at the net as she has recorded 57 blocks (39 assisted and 18 solo) where she ranks tenth in the conference with an average of .55 blocks per set.
The Mustang, Oklahoma native in White currently ranks first on team with a total of 62 blocks (33 assisted and 29 solo) and second on the team with 256.5 points and 210 kills. In the blocks category, White currently ranks eighth in the conference with an average of .60 blocks per set. On the offensive side of the net, White is averaging 2.49 points per set while achieving a 2.04 kill per set average.
This season, the Gorloks have used the double-setter offensive where Ellie Biedenstein and Delaney Morio have been excellent at constructing the offensive. Senior setter Biedenstein leads the team with 482 assists for an average of 4.59 assists per set. In addition, Morio has recorded 371 assists for an average of 3.50 assists per set.
Defensively, the Gorloks are led by libero Jaycee Lewis as she has collected a team-high 442 digs where she ranks fourth in the conference with a 4.25 digs per set average. In addition, first-year Lauren Harms has been great in the back row where she has collected 199 digs for an average of 2.26 digs per set.
2024 SLIAC Volleyball Quarterfinals match-ups (All Games at Higher Seed)
November 13:
#5 Webster University vs. #4 Spalding University, 6 p.m. (eastern time)
#6 Blackburn College vs. #3 Fontbonne University, 7 p.m.
