DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque women's volleyball team was invited to play in the Loras Invitational this weekend. With a total of ten teams in the tournament, the Stoltz Sports Center was utilized as a second host site. The Spartans took advantage of their additional home games with two sweeps over College of Saint Scholastica Saints and the Westminster Bluejays.
The Spartans first win of the day was against the Saints. Halfway through the opening set, the Spartans led by a point 9-8. The next nine points belonged to the Spartans capping off a 9-0 run led by
Ashlyn McGinnis at the service line who recorded three aces. The Spartans would take set one 25-12 tallying 15 kills posting a 38% attacking percentage.
In the second set the Spartans jumped out to a quick 8-1 lead forcing the Saints into a timeout. Out of the break the Spartans extended their lead to 19-7. The Saints responded with 10-1 run cutting the Spartan lead to just four (23-19). On the next two possessions, the Spartans took advantage of Saint's errors to grab another set win 25-19. Offensively, the Spartans racked up a team high 18 kills led by
Emma Powell with five along with
Payton Uptagraft and
Alexis Bedier with four each. A total of 14 Spartans saw action including freshmen
Chloe Reiser who played in her first collegiate set.
The third and final set was all Spartans as they won 25-2.
Alexis Kammerer served 16 times in a row as the Spartans routed the Saints. The Spartans capitalized on 12-17 kill attempts for an incredible attacking percentage of 70%. Another freshman
Halee Clare saw her first collegiate action and recorded two kills along with the game winning block. The Spartans finished the match with a season high attacking percentage of 44%.
The Spartans second game of the evening came against the visiting Bluejays of Westminster. The first set featured a competitive back and forth match as there were eight ties and three lead changes. Late in the set, the Spartans trailed 19-17 but completed the comeback victory with a 25-22 win. Powell led the charge with nine of her 18 kills in the opening set.
Throughout the second set, the Spartans never trailed capturing momentum with a 10-0 run early on to secure a 25-21 set win. The Spartans completed the sweep in third set with a convincing 25-16 win. Seven different Spartans recorded kills in the match against Westminster. Setters, McGinnis and Kammerer combined for 37 of the team's 43 assists. Uptagraft finished the night with three solo blocks and two block assists.
Up Next
The Spartans will look to carry momentum into the second day of the Loras Invitational. The first game of the afternoon will be against St. Olaf at 12:00 p.m. followed right after with another game against St. Mary's at 2:00 p.m.
