The William Jewell volleyball team enjoyed perhaps the best weekend of the season while at the Mizuno Midwest Region Crossover in Indianapolis, Indiana, going 3-0. The Cardinals earned wins over Cedarville and Wisconsin-Parkside on Saturday, following a Friday victory over Trevecca Nazarene. With the clean sweep of the tournament, Jewell moves to 8-17 on the season.
GAME ONE (vs. Cedarville, 27-25, 28-26, 22-25, 25-20)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Set One: The Cardinals fell behind 24-18 in the opener but staved off six consecutive set points to win 27-25. After a service error by the Yellowjackets, Sefanie Richterkessing dropped an ace, followed by three kills from Elizabeth Quinn, as well as one each from Jenna Rau and Tori Vogt to battle back and take the set.
- Set Two: The Cardinals jumped out to a 16-11 lead midway through the second set, capped by a kill from Paityn Hardison. Cedarville responded and eventually tied the set at 23 before Hardison put Jewell at set point with another kill. The Jackets returned the point and took the lead 26-25 but two kills from Raechel Meisinger gave Jewell the 28-26 win and 2-0 lead.
- Set Three: The third set was a back-and-forth battle, with neither team able to grab more than a two point lead after the Jackets lead 9-6 early. A late four-point run by Cedarville sealed the set 25-22.
- Set Four: Another close set, the finale saw the Cardinals turn a 17-16 lead into a 22-18 advantage after a kill by Lily Johnson and three Cedarville errors. Two kills by Rau shut the door and won the set 25-20.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Jewell out hit the Jackets with 64 kills on a season-best .285 attack percentage compared to just a .206 clip.
- The Cardinals came out firing hitting, .343 with 16 kills in the opening set.
LEADERS OF THE FLIGHT
GAME TWO (vs. Wisconsin-Parkside, 26-24, 25-23, 17-25, 25-23)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Set One: Jewell came out hot in the first set of game two, taking a 9-4 lead and forcing an early UWP timeout. The Rangers rallied and tied the set at 13 before the Cards went on a 8-2 run, capped by a kill from Maddie Wingert. Again the Rangers responded and tied things up at 23 before two Cardinal kills ended the set 26-24.
- Set Two: Tied at 21, the Cardinals got two kills from Hardison and one from Quinn to take the set 25-23 and go on top by two.
- Set Three: UWP went on 9-4 run midway through set three to go on top by five, 18-13. Jewell was able to score just four of the final 12 points and dropped the set 25-17.
- Set Four: Much like the opener, the Cardinals opened an early lead only to see the Rangers rally and pull within one at 20-19. The finale went smoother however, with two kills from Rau and Meisinger to help slam the door 25-23.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Cardinals again posted a positive hitting percentage at .223 with 53 kills on 139 attempts.
- Jewell posted 10 blocks, tied for the third most this season.
LEADERS OF THE FLIGHT
- Kills: Hardison (15), Rau (11)
- Aces: Hardison (2)
- Blocks: Quinn (6), Hardison (3), Wingert (3)
- Assists: Castaneda (21), Rhule (19)
- Digs: Richterkessing (21)
YOU SHOULD NOTE
- In the final game of the weekend, senior Olivia Tolberd became the all-time leader in career digs with her 2,119th ball.
- Rau's 17 kills opposite Cedarville is a new career high for the senior who tied her previous career high twice earlier in the season.
UP NEXT
Jewell returns to Great Lakes Valley Conference play next weekend as they will travel back to Indianapolis for a match up with the Greyhounds as well as No. 19 Lewis.
