Kansas City
Drake
UMKC Tops Drake, Omaha to Go 3-0 in Omaha Classic
9/3/2016 11:37:00 PM | Volleyball
OMAHA, Neb. – Backed by career-best performances from a number of athletes, including senior Emma Hagedorn (Parkville, Mo.), UMKC volleyball took down Drake in five sets and topped Omaha on their home court to go 3-0 in the Omaha Classic on Saturday, Sept. 3. Hagedorn, along with junior Devan Porter (Bettendorf, Iowa) and senior Kaylyn Brandt (Sumner, Iowa) were named to the All-Tournament team.
UMKC (5-2) opened the day with a 25-19 win in the first set against Drake (5-2), hopping out to an early 11-4 lead. The Bulldogs erased their early deficit to the Kangaroos quickly, going on a 10-2 run to take the lead at 14-13. Drake ran it up to 16-14 before UMKC went on an incredible run, scoring eight-straight points that included three kills from Porter a service ace from senior Brianna Starr (Blue Springs, Mo.), and an assisted block from Porter and Hagedorn (Parkville, Mo.). The rally shifted the momentum in UMKC's favor and they finished out the set allowing just three more points to the Bulldogs.
Drake got out to a 4-0 lead in the second set, but UMKC was able to hold the lead near the midway point of the set at 14-11, but the Bulldogs scored five-straight points to regain the lead. The 'Roos wouldn't go away, hanging with Drake the remainder of the set, even tying things at 23, but the Bulldogs closed out the set at 25-23.
Hagedorn stole the show in the third set, and what a show it was. The two teams battled their way to a 35-33 score, with the Bulldogs taking the upper-hand in the set to take the 2-1 lead in the match. Hagedorn led all players in the set with an astonishing nine kills on 13 total attempts, hitting .615 in the set alone. Her efforts were aided by 19 assists in the set from Brandt.
The heartbreaking loss in third the set lit a fire in the 'Roos, and cruised to a 25-13 win in set four, and a 15-5 victory in the final set. The fifth set ended with five-straight points from UMKC that included four kills, two from senior Madison Mosier (Lee's Summit, Mo.) and two from Porter, and was finished with an ace from junior Adasia Bromberger (Omaha, Neb.) in front of her hometown crowd.
Hagedorn finished the match with a career-high 21 kills, hitting .690 along the way. Porter notched a double-double, powering home 18 kills and racking up 16 digs. Brandt joined Porter in the double-double club with 59 assists and 19 digs, and Starr led the defensive efforts of the 'Roos with 28 digs, a career-high.
It seemed as though the momentum stuck with the 'Roos from their match Saturday morning throughout the day and into their evening match, despite it starting two hours later than scheduled. UMKC wasted no time and took down the tournament host Mavs (2-6) in three sets, 25-16, 25-15, 25-18.
Freshman Alicia Harrington (Cedar Falls, Iowa) led the charge for UMKC with 11 kills on 24 total attempts, while Mosier and Porter added nine kills apiece, and Hagedorn chipped in for eight. Brandt racked up 35 assists, while Starr tabbed 22 digs and freshman Rhegan Spiegel (Savannah, Mo.) contributed with 11 digs of her own.
UMKC returns to Kansas City to host the Kangaroo Klassic at Swinney Recreation Center on the UMKC campus, Sept. 9 and 10. The 'Roos will welcome Bradley, Cornell, Omaha and Northern Iowa to the City of Fountains for the 2016 home opener.
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