Smith Helps Lead Statesmen to Sweep Over Grinnell
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–The William Penn women’s volleyball team hosted a non-conference match-up with Grinnell College Tuesday. The match was the second consecutive night the team was in action after a big conference win on Monday.
The Statesmen (15-5) swept the Pioneers (9-10) in straight sets (27-25, 25-21, 25-23) to take the non-conference matchup.
WPU was pushed by Grinnell in all three sets, including the first set in which the Statesmen trailed 24-23 but managed fight back in route to a 27-25 victory.
The sweep was the team’s eighth of the season, already tying the total for all of last season.
Offensively, the navy and gold outhit the visitors .225 to .140 led by the duo of Nashali Cruz (So., Bayamon, P.R., Biology) and Alicia Jaquez (So., Farmington, N.M., Biology) who each had nine kills on the evening.
The two-setter combo was back at it again for the Statesmen. Haley Smith (Sr., Adrian, Mich., Elementary Education) led the team with 17 assists while Elena Lucero (Fr., Yuba City, Calif., Political Science) was just behind her finishing with 16.
On the defensive side, the Statesmen had a trio of players reach double-digit dig totals. Smith led the team with 16 digs to complete her double-double while Belle Potter (Sr., Spokane, Wash., Undecided) and Jordan Carter (Sr., Sigourney, Iowa, Elementary Education) produced 11 and 10 respectively.
Smith’s double-double was her fourth on the season.
Next up: William Penn will host conference foe MidAmerica Nazarene on Friday, September 28, in the Penn Gymnasium starting at 7:00 p.m.
