Statesmen End 2013 with Sweep by Clarke

William Penn Women’s Athletics

Dubuque–The William Penn volleyball team put in a great effort to keep its season alive, but in the end the home squad was a bit stronger as the Statesmen were swept 3-0 by #3 seed Clarke in the Midwest Collegiate Conference Tournament Quarterfinals Saturday.

The sixth-seeded Statesmen, who end their year at 15-30, lost by scores of 19-25, 23-25, 23-25. The setback ends the collegiate careers of seniors Alanna Connors (Libertyville, Ill., Biology) and Jeanette Cunningham (Mt. Orab, Ohio, Elementary Education).

The Statesmen led 5-2 early in the first set, but gave up six unanswered and never led again. The second set witnessed the visitors lead for much of the second set, going up by as much as five at 13-8. Still ahead 19-15, WPU permitted five in a row by the Crusaders (31-7). William Penn recaptured the edge at 23-22, but Clarke scored the final three points to go up by a commanding 2-0 lead.

The visitors gained a 5-2 margin in the third and final set, only to give up three straight. Neither side led by more than three points down the stretch, but the Statesmen did not have enough down the stretch to keep the night going.

Connors, in her final match in the navy and gold, paced WPU with ten kills and a .226 attack percentage. Kristal Campos (Jr., Lancaster, Calif., Sociology) and Shawni Wills (Fr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Biology) both finished with seven winners.

Leyra Jusino (So., Bayamon, P.R., General Biology) assisted 18 times, while Sarah Stepp (So., Oakville, Mo., Undecided) and Danielle Breeher (So., St. Louis, Mo., Undecided) served up two aces.

Defensively, Jusino and Breeher dug nine attacks and Cunningham was a part of four blocks (all assists).

William Penn was outhit .218-.115 in the loss.