Lady Statesmen Split First Four Matches of Season at Mount Mercy Invite
William Penn Women's Athletics
Cedar Rapids–The William Penn volleyball squad had a mixed bag of results as it opened 2011 at the Mount Mercy Zio Johno’s Mustang Invitational Friday and Saturday.
The Lady Statesmen (2-2) opened the weekend with a 3-1 loss to Avila (Mo.) (25-15, 15-25, 22-25, 23-25), but bounced back to drop Missouri Valley 3-1 (25-15, 25-20, 21-25, 25-23).
Saturday was a near mirror image with William Penn falling 3-1 to Mayville State (N.D.) (18-25, 19-25, 25-19, 5-25) and defeating York 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-23).
Newcomer Katie Rielly (Jr., Oskaloosa, Des Moines Area CC) had a strong debut, leading the Lady Statesmen with 12 kills against Avila. Brittany Rohling (Sr., Thayer, Kan., Neosho CC) just missed double figures with nine winners.
Katherine Stumberg (Sr., Williamsburg, Kirkwood CC) tallied 22 assists, while freshman Dayna Sammons (Menomonee Falls, Wis., Menomonee Falls HS) contributed 11 in the two-setter system.
Defensively, Jenny Wuertz (Sr., Crystal City, Mo., Crystal City HS) posted 15 digs, while Rielly had five blocks (two solos, three assists). Rohling added three block assists and Katy Hingtgen (Sr., West Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS) served three aces in addition to five kills.
Christa Subbert (Sr., Stanton, Stanton HS) made her net debut later in the day versus Missouri Valley and her efforts were greatly appreciated as she matched Rohling with 15 kills. Hingtgen also reached double digits with ten, while Rielly added seven kills.
Sammons took the lead in the setting department this time around with 25 assists, compared to 22 for Stumberg, while Alanna Connors (So., Libertyville, Ill., Libertyville HS) dug a squad-best 21 balls.
Sammons and Hingtgen recorded two aces each and Ana Gutch (Fr., Eddyville, Eddyville-Blakesburg HS) assisted on three blocks.
Subbert hit the double-digit mark (10) to pace the offense against Mayville State, but it was too little. Rielly and Rohling, with nine and eight kills, respectively, also contributed offensively.
Stumberg assisted on 16 winners and Sammons on 11, while Subbert showed she possesses defensive skills as well by leading the squad with 15 digs.
Subbert concluded the weekend with another 15-kill performance in the York matchup. Rohling finished with eight and Rielly scored six points as well.
Stumberg’s 18 assists were just a few better than the 12 posted by Sammons. Rielly ended the match with two aces, while Connors had 16 digs and Rohling blocked four balls (two solos, two assists).
Next: William Penn remains on the road next weekend by traveling to Point Lookout, Mo. to compete in the College of the Ozarks Tournament. On Friday, the Lady Statesmen face Southern Nazarene (Okla.) at 1 p.m. and Bethany (Kan.) at 5 p.m. On Saturday, William Penn meets McPherson (Kan.) at 9 a.m. and Lyon (Ark.) at 11 a.m.
