Statesmen Open Season with Split at Robert Morris Tourney
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Chicago, Ill.–The William Penn women’s volleyball team ushered in a new era as Head Coach Aleesha Cleaver made her coaching debut for the navy and gold in the Robert Morris tournament, Friday and Saturday.
The team ended the trip 2-2, their best opening four-game mark since the 2012 season.
The Statesmen (2-2) began Friday wasting no time getting Coach Cleaver her first William Penn win defeating Ave Maria (Fla.) in straight sets (25-15, 25-22, 25-20), before falling 3-1 to Dakota Wesleyan (25-23, 14-25, 18-25, 22-25).
On Saturday, WPU lost 3-1 to host Robert Morris (Ill.) (23-25, 20-25, 25-14, 24-26), but managed to cap off the weekend with a 3-1 win over Lincoln (Ill.) (25-8, 25-12, 20-25, 25-22).
WPU 3, AMU 0
The Statesmen outhit the Gyrenes by a wide margin .246-.125, and made a statement early on by taking the first set 25-15 to open the season.
Jordan Carter (Sr., Sigourney, Iowa, Elementary Education) lead the attack offensively tallying 13 kills and hitting at a .263 clip.
Alexis Weatherspoon (Sr., Kansas City, Mo., Physical Education) joined in on the attack with 8 winners, while Danielle Pendzinski (Jr., Winnebago, Ill.)put down 7 kills in her debut with the navy and gold.
Elaine Lucero (Fr., Yuba City, Calif.) had an impressive statesmen debut with 20 assists, while Ashley Miller (Sr., Kalona, Iowa, Exercise Science) began the weekend with 22 digs.
DWU 3, WPU 1
William Penn did not hit as efficiently in their second matchup on Friday as they were outhit .236-.165. Carter had a big game, coming up with 21 kills with a .268 percentage for the Statesmen. Weatherspoon joined her in double-digits, posting 10 kills.
Haley Smith (Sr., Adrian Mich., Elementary Education) put up a team high 24 assists, followed by Lucero’s 21 to help guide the Statesmen offensively.
Defensively the navy and gold had a trio of players mark double-digit digs lead by Miller’s 22, with Haley Vampran (Sr., Fort Worth, Texas, Exercise Science) and Carter each posting 13.
RMU 3, WPU 1
No stats available at this time.
WPU 3, LC 1
William Penn dominated the first two sets, but fell in the third before finishing off the Lynx in the fourth set. William Penn, hit a weekend-high .274 while holding Lincoln to a .133 percentage.
Three Statesmen managed to reach double-digits in kills lead by Carter capping off her great weekend with 17 kills. Corrin Lepper (Fr., Jefferson City, Mo., Exercise Science) finished with 13 kills and Pendzinkski finished with 10.
Smith and Lucero continued to set-up the attack each managing to log at least 20 assists. Smith finished with 21 and Lucero ended with 20. Miller finished with 11 digs to cap off a great start to her senior campaign.
The Statesmen played well on the net and finished with 10 blocks. Kiara Davis (Jr., Thibodaux, La., Biology) paced the team with 3.
Next Up: William Penn will travel to Salina, Kansas to play in the Kansas Wesleyan Tournament beginning Sept. 1 when they take on Haskell Indian Nations.
