Kansas City
Western Illinois
UMKC Picks Up Fourth Straight League Win With 3-2 Win Over Leathernecks
10/29/2011 10:20:00 PM | Volleyball
In the match, junior setter Ella Meier stuffed the stat sheet, matching her career-high of 52 assists set last night, while also recording 21 digs, eight blocks, including three solo, six kills and three aces. Senior Elizabeth Beck, meanwhile, set a new career-high with 20 kills and five digs, while junior Chloe Jarema and senior Kelsey Knoche also topped the 10 kill mark with 12 and 10, respectively.
In the first set, the 'Roos jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the match with a 25-17 win. UMKC built a five-point lead early, going ahead 10-5, 15 points in. WIU closed to within one late in the set at 18-17, but UMKC scored the final seven points of the set for the win.
The Leathernecks quickly answered with a 25-23 second set win, tying the match at one set apiece heading into intermission. WIU then took its first lead of the match with a second straight 25-23 win in the third set.
Needing a win in the fourth set, UMKC pulled off a 25-22 win after trailing late at 22-21. In the set, the Kangaroos went ahead by as many as three, before WIU grabbed its late lead. Trailing by one, the 'Roos ripped off the final four points of the set, on a pair of Jarema kills, a Meier ace and a WIU error, to force a fifth set.
In the deciding set, UMKC built a six-point lead, scoring 11 of the first 16 points. WIU then pulled to within three at 13-10, but a kill from senior Christiana McQuin and a Leatherneck error gave the 'Roos the 15-10 set win and the match.
For the 'Roos, senior Nicole Kerkman led the defensive effort with a team-high 31 digs, while seniors Kara Thomas (14), Erin Wellwood (11) and Knoche (10) each reached double-figures. At the net, seniors McQuin and Demetria Williams recorded five and three blocks, respectively.
Offensively for UMKC, McQuin recorded nine kills, while junior Emily Lucas finished with eight and junior Brittany Fossier had five.
The Blue & Gold will be back in action again on Friday when they host IPFW
at 5 p.m. in the Swinney Recreation Center.
