William Penn Places Sixth at Ashford Invite
William Penn Lady Statesmen shown here in recent home action
Clinton–The Lady Statesmen volleyball team unfortunately did not have a very good showing in front of three other league programs as it competed at the Ashford Invitational Friday and Saturday.
#18 Viterbo, Clarke, and Ashford were all in the competition with Viterbo sweeping Clarke 3-0 for the title Saturday afternoon.
The Lady Statesmen (9-9) began Friday with a 3-0 loss to Clarke (13-25, 18-25, 10-25) and then were also swept won by McKendree (Ill.) (22-25, 20-25, 22-25).
Saturday started better with a 3-1 win over Sioux Falls (S.D.) (25-18, 25-18, 20-25, 25-15), setting the team in the fifth-place game. William Penn came up short one final time, however, pushing the host Saints to the five-game limit (21-25, 25-23, 25-18, 20-25, 8-15).
Clarke 3, William Penn 0
All-tournament performer Lacey Taylor (Jr., Cedar, Iowa Western CC) was white hot out of the gate with 12 kills and a .571 attack percentage against Clarke.
Katherine Stumberg (Sr., Williamsburg, Kirkwood CC) managed 16 assists, while Alanna Connors (So., Libertyville, Ill., Libertyville HS) finished with ten digs.
McKendree 3, William Penn 0
Taylor again guided the navy and gold against McKendree, but with just nine kills. Stumberg and Dayna Sammons (Fr., Menomonee Falls, Wis., Menomonee Falls HS) managed 14 assists apiece and Connors dug 16 balls (Taylor had 15 digs).
Taylor and Katie Rielly (Jr., Oskaloosa, Des Moines Area CC) served two aces and defensively, Brittany Rohling (Sr., Thayer, Kan., Neosho CC) posted two solo blocks and a block assist.
William Penn 3, Sioux Falls 1
Taylor reached double figures with 12 kills and was not alone as Jeanette Cunningham (So., Mt. Orab, Ohio, Western Brown HS) contributed ten. Rohling, with eight, and Katy Hingtgen (Sr., West Des Moines, Iowa, Dowling Catholic HS), with six, were also strong on the offensive end.
The Lady Statesmen hit a weekend-best .402 against the Cougars.
Nineteen assists were credited to Sammons and Stumberg helped out with 18 winners. Taylor had 15 digs and Sammons was impressive at the service line with five aces. Christa Subbert (Sr., Stanton, Stanton HS) also notched three and Taylor earned a pair on the stat sheet.
Rohling was a presence at the net as well with seven blocks (three solos, four assists).
Ashford 3, William Penn 2
Taylor saved her best for last with 17 kills. Three others (Rielly with 13 and Hingtgen and Subbert with ten each) were also productive.
Stumberg’s 38 assists were a weekend high and Connors led her team with 20 digs. Hingtgen added two aces and five block assists, while Rohling matched her defensive tally.
Next: William Penn goes right back to Clinton Wednesday to face Ashford in MCC play at 7:30 p.m.
