DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque women's volleyball team hosted the Central College Dutch on Senior Night inside Stoltz Sports Center. Seniors Jordan Huisinga, Emily Swanson, Kaylynn Murray, Meghan Prohaska, and Emma Fitzgibbons were all honored Friday night for their outstanding careers within the volleyball program. The Spartans would take care of business as they take down the Dutch in four sets, 3-1 (25-15, 27-25, 21-25, 25-18). 

In the opening set, the Spartans and Dutch battled back-and-forth before the Spartans would lead 17-13 forcing the Dutch to call timeout. The Spartans would not relinquish the lead the rest of the way as they finish off the first set with a 6-0 run to win 25-15. The Spartans would lead throughout the beginning of the second set before trailing 16-18 as the Spartans called for a timeout. Both teams traded leads late in the set, including 17 ties, but the Spartans would prevail as Darby Hawtrey blocked a Dutch attack and then recorded a kill of her own to win set two, 27-25.

The Spartans looking to sweep the Dutch would trail 7-12 early and would be forced to call timeout. The Spartans would answer with a 8-3 run to bring the set even at 15-15 forcing the opposition to call timeout. Unfortunately, the Dutch would attack better down the stretch to avoid the sweep with a 21-25 set victory. The fourth set would be a constant point for point battle much of the way until the Spartans would be able to expand their lead to four at 21-17. The Spartans would eventually be able to finish off the Dutch 25-18 in the fourth to win the match 3-1. 

Emma Powell had a game-high 14 kills on 31 attacks (.387) and Alexis Bedier, Payton Uptagraft, and Hawtrey all added nine kills. Assists would almost be evenly split between Murray (23) and Maegan Brylski (19) and Powell would lead the Spartans with 15 digs. As a collective group, the Spartans managed a .261 attacking percentage on 138 total attacks. There was a total of 32 ties and 15 lead changes throughout the close four set match. 

The Spartans now move to 10-14 overall and 4-2 in conference play. 

Up Next
The Spartans will play again tomorrow (Oct. 22) morning to kickoff homecoming when they take on the Simpson College Storm at 11:00 a.m.