Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Webster Groves, MO. -- The Panthers knew they needed to contain Gorlok's Jory Siebenmorgen to have a chance at beating Webster, and they didn't. Jory's season average is 2.97 kills/set (.287), and she swung for 5.0 kills/set (.370) in the match against Principia. Principia knew how they wanted to play the game to push Webster out of system, but the Panthers offense was too slow to avoid the Gorlok block and that led to Principia defending Webster's in system game, and struggling to be in system themselves. Both teams posted a 12% error, but the difference came in Webster putting away 33% of the balls they swung at and Principia only terminating 21%. The Webster defense was tight and hard-working. They picked up 74% of the Panthers' offensive balls, whereas Principia only dug 58% of the Gorlok's offense.
In game one Principia stayed on task and Webster had to work to find their rhythm. While the Gorlok's were a bit off balance, Principia's offense took off hitting .314 with 13 kills and only two errors compared to Webster's .158 with 11 kills and 5 errors. In game two Webster tightened up and gained control of the match, and Principia's play was undisciplined and lack-luster leading to a 25-18 Gorlok win. The Panthers still showed determination in game three rallying to a 12-12 tie, falling off a bit and then pulling back into the game at 19-22. But it was too little, too late as Webster won 25-21. Game four the Panthers looked slow and discouraged, and really didn't have any competitive fire as a group, leading to a very articulate win for Webster.
Kudos to Principia for serving well with only 1 error out of 55 serves. The blocking presence was solid as well, tying Webster with 6 blocks for the match. Offensively Sophia led the squad with 12 kills (.171) and
Nikki Matters was close behind with 10 kills (.140). Defensively the Panthers had a nice well rounded presence with Matters picking up 21 Gorlok hits, and Hathaway and setter
Devon Marunde tallied 16 apiece. Marunde and Hathaway each posted a service ace as well.
In match two of the day the Panthers had their first meeting of the season with Iowa Wesleyan, and pulled together a confident 3 straight game win. IWU runs a fast and furious pace, and they are incredibly scrappy on defense. They get after it, but in the end that wasn't enough. Principia hit .169 for the outing with IWU hitting .036. 11% error from Principia compared to IWU's 18% error made the difference. Principia's block put a kink in IWU's offense as the Panthers recorded 8 blocks (compared to IWU's 2). Prin won the defensive side of the game as well digging 76% of IWU's swings compared to IWU digging 65% of the Panthers' balls. Three Panthers joined the 100% serving club –
Anna Webster,
Amanda Roberts, and
Nikki Matters. Hathaway led the offense with 14 kills hitting .351, and
Rachel Proctor put down 5 kills with a single error (.308), while Matters had another good match with 9 kills. The Panthers had five digging double digits –
Cha Cha Fisher, Marunde, Matters, Hathaway and Libero
Mia Gill.
Principia Volleyball hits the road to take on MacMurray this Tuesday. This will be the first meeting of the two this season.
