The William Jewell volleyball team opened the 2017 season on the road on Friday at the Sioux Falls Invitational with the first of four matches on the weekend. The Cardinals took the opener 3-1 over Black Hills State before falling to Arkansas-Fort Smith by the same score.

HOW IT HAPPENED

        Black Hills State

• SET ONE: The Cardinals took an 18-15 lead before the Yellowjackets scored seven of the next eight points and went on to take set one 25-22.
• SET TWO: Jewell came out firing in the second set, taking their largest lead of the match at 19-7. Jewell took the match easily at 25-14.
• SET THREE: The Cards took a six point advantage at 19-13 before BHSU made things interesting, going on a 8-2 run to pull within one. A kill from Grace Miller aided by two Yellowjacket errors, gave Jewell the set at 25-22.
• SET FOUR: After holding a 17-15 lead the Cardinals allowed BHSU to take a 24-22 advantage. Jewell used four consecutive points, including three kills from Madeline Johnson to rally and claim the set 26-24 and the match 3-1.
   

       (RV) Arkansas - Fort Smith

• SET ONE: After holding a three point lead at 17-14, the Lions scored six consecutive points to take a commanding 20-17 lead. The Cards did not go quietly however, scoring four straight points, including three kills from Elizabeth Quinn, at the end of the set to win 25-23.
• SET TWO: Jewell fell behind 18-14 but rallied to pull within one only to see the Lions go on a 7-1 run to take the second set 25-18.
• SET THREE: The Cards fell behind early and couldn't recover as the Lions took set three 25-18. 
• SET FOUR: Jewell fell behind by as many as 11 in the final set (21-10), before ultimately falling 25-11. 
   

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Jewell posted 60 kills and a .236 attack percentage against Black Hills State, including a .517 mark in the second set, while holding the Yellowjackets to a .207 clip. 
• The Cardinals struggled offensively against Arkansas - Fort Smith to the tune of .085 attack percentage, but held their own on along the back row with 55 digs

LEADERS OF THE FLIGHT 

• Grace Miller led Jewell in kills against both opponents with 16 and ten respectively.
• Stefanie Richterkessing also posted 16 kills against Black Hills State.
• Senior setter Alix Weigel grabbed 74 total assists over the two matches
• Libero Olivia Tolberd was tops with 41 digs over the two matches while Paige Cunningham was also in double-digits twice with 13 and ten respectively.
• Johnson led the way along the net with seven blocks on the day with Miller close behind with five. 
   

YOU SHOULD NOTE

• Senior middle blocker Grace Miller posted double-digit kills in both matches, including a career best 16 opposite Black Hills State.
• With her 41 digs on the day, libero Olivia Tolberd raised her streak of double-digit dig games to 31 consecutive matches, dating back to September 3, 2016. 

UP NEXT
The Cardinals continue the Sioux Falls Invite as they take on the host team at 11:30 a.m. followed by a match up with Fort Hays State out of the MIAA.