ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Webster University volleyball team played in front of their home crowd for the first time this season by hosting University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy Wednesday night in Grant Gym. The Gorloks earned their first victory of the season with 3-1 defeat over the Eutectics. WU's Megan Zablonski led the attack with new career-highs of 15 kills and 19 points while Lauren Brown created a new career-high of 12 kills.

Webster and UHSP opened this non-conference match alternating points that included two kills by Delaney Fullenkamp and career-night starting kills from Brown and Zablonski which tied the set at seven apiece. Following consecutive points by the Eutectics, the Gorloks regained the 10-9 advantage on a kill by Zablonski and back-to-back service aces by Riley Watson. 

Midway through the set, Webster broke open the set with an 11-2 run that started on three consecutive kills by Brown. Moments later, Delaney Morio added a set kill which was followed by kills by Brown and Maddie Bock. Zablonski capped off the run with a kill that created a 22-14 advantage. The Gorloks closed out the set with three kills by Tyler Ramstack, Zablonski, and Fullenkamp that won the set by the score of 25-17. 

The Gorloks and Eutectics opened the set exchanging 3-0 runs that featured another kill by Zablonski. Moments later, Webster responded with a 7-1 run for the 10-5 lead that included two kills by Ramstack and a kill each by Zablonski and Fullenkamp. With an 11-7 advantage, the Gorloks rallied for a 6-1 run that consisted of three kills by Brown and a kill by Eva Tarlos. 

Following that kill by Tarlos, UHSP chipped back in the set with a 10-1 run that tied that set at 18 apiece. The set continued with back-and-forth action when a kill by Grace White gave Webster the 20-19 lead. Following a point by the Eutectics, the Gorloks responded with three consecutive points for the 23-20 advantage. In that stretch, White hammered down another kill which was followed up with back-to-back to back service aces by Zablonski. The left-handed hitter in Fullenkamp closed out the set with kills for the 25-23 set victory. 

USHP opened the third set with an 11-4 advantage that featured two kills by Zablonski and a kill by Morio. Webster chipped back and cut the deficit to 8-12 with a 4-1 run that included two kills by Zablonski, a service by Brynn Peloquin, and a kill by White. Moments later, the Eutectics countered with a 6-1 run that pushed the score to 9-18. The Gorloks continued to battle back and cut the deficit to 16-20 with a 7-2 run. In the run, Morio added two kills while Fullenkamp, Maggie Standford, and Zablonski added a kill each. In the final five points of the set, Zablonski and White contributed a kill each but UHSP forced a fourth set with a 19-25 victory.   

UHSP opened the fourth set with consecutive points but that was their only lead of the set. Webster responded with a 7-0 run for the lead of 7-2 all on the services of Lauren Peterson. In the run, Peterson contributed two service aces while Fullenkamp added two kills as Zablonski slammed another kill. Moments later, the Eutectics countered with a 7-2 run that tied the set at nine apiece. 

With the match tied, the Gorloks responded with a 8-2 run that increased the lead to 17-11. In the run, Zablonski added another service ace and a kill while Ramstack and Brown added a kill each. Moments later, Brown added consecutive kills that pushed the lead to 19-13. Following that kill by Brown, the Eutectics chipped back with a 6-2 that cut the lead down to 21-19. However, Webster and UHSP closed out the set exchanging points as a kill by Brown made the match final. 

For the match and in addition to Zablonski and Brown's kills, Fullenkamp tied her career-high with nine kills. Zablonski led the team with four service aces while Peterson and Watson tallied two each. Setters Morio and Watson combined for 29 assists while led by Morio with 16.  Peloquin and Lewis added five assists each. 

On the defensive side of the net, Zablonski led the team with 13 digs while Brown collected nine as Morio secured eight. White and Catherine Rennier recorded a solo block each for the only blocks of the game. 

The Gorloks will continue their non-conference schedule this Friday, September 5 competing in the Rhodes College Classic starting with a contest against Austin College at 3:00PM in Memphis, Tennessee.