Statesmen Start Home Slate with Four-Set Victory Over Avila
Oskaloosa–The William Penn women’s volleyball team got its home schedule underway Thursday with a 3-1 non-conference win against Avila.
WPU (6-4) won by scores of 25-20, 25-23, 15-25, 25-21. The victory is the squad’s sixth in a row.
The triumph came despite the navy and gold being outhit .121-.106.
In a set where both sides hit .133, the hosts gave up the first two points, but answered with seven in a row. The Eagles (7-5) closed the gap to one point later on, but WPU held on to claim the 1-0 edge.
The second round was nearly a carbon copy of the first as the Statesmen fell behind early, only to rally with a big run. This time around, AU was able to recapture the advantage, but William Penn stepped up down the stretch to put the visitors on the brink.
Avila was up for the challenge, though, rolling past WPU in the third set to stay alive in the match.
Down by as many as six points in the fourth set, the navy and gold still faced a five-point deficit at 16-11. A service error gave the ball back to William Penn, and then Abigail Mitchell (Sr., Oxford, Ala., Nursing) took over. The senior opened with back-to-back aces (four total in her run, five overall), leading the Statesmen to eight unanswered points. As a squad, WPU managed 11 aces (seven for AU).
The Eagles drew back within one with consecutive points, but a pair of kills from Alix Robinson (So., Pontiac, Ill., Political Science and History) guided the Statesmen to the win.
Emilie Bojorquez-McFadden (Sr., Surprise, Ariz., Biology) topped WPU with 11 kills, while Hailee Pesek (Sr., New Hampton, Iowa, Nursing) and Emma Skoglund (Fr., Branson, Mo.) each managed eight. Mariah Reed (Jr., Fulton, Mo., Business Management) accumulated six winners as well.
The setting duo of Courtney McWilliams (So., Rockton, Ill., Nursing) (20 assists) and Leah Meyer (Fr., Houston, Texas) (19) guided the offense, while McWilliams finished with a double-double as she notched 16 digs as well. Maddy Gustafson (Jr., Marion, Iowa, Psychology and Human Services) was the top back row player with 18 digs.
Mariah Reed (Jr., Fulton, Mo., Business Management) headlined the defensive net presence with four block assists. The home team overcame a 7-6 deficit in blocks.
“A win is a win at the end of the night,” Head Coach Lauren Eldridge said. “This was not our best volleyball, but we finished when it mattered the most. We had to use all of our depth to help elevate us to the win. Our serving pressure helped keep us in the game. It was a great environment to play in, and I cannot wait to be at home these next couple days.”
Next Up: William Penn hosts the William Penn Labor Day Tournament Friday and Saturday in Oskaloosa. On Friday, WPU meets Briar Cliff at 12 p.m. and Mount Marty at 6 p.m., while on Saturday, the Statesmen battle Hannibal-LaGrange at 1 p.m. and Waldorf at 5 p.m.
