Spencer, Mastodons, Ace Thunderbirds in Four

Friday, October 28

Fort Wayne, Ind.

7:00 PM

Purdue Fort Wayne

17-7, 10-3Summit

Southern Utah

8-17, 5-9Summit

Southern Utah

IPFW

Photo by: Lucas Carter

10/28/2011 9:06:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Behind a career-high-tying five aces from Emily Spencer, the Mastodons recorded a season-high 12 service aces, topping the Southern Utah Thunderbirds in four sets 16-25, 25-22, 25-21, and 25-16.

Jessie Manwaring had 15 kills to lead IPFW while Spencer added 11. Tessa McGill added three service aces, while picking up a match-high 17 digs, with Spencer adding 14 and Kendall Wienkes 10.

Leading 7-3 early in the first set, it looked as if IPFW (17-7, 10-3 Summit League) would run away with the opening frame; however, a series of Thunderbird runs totaling 17-6, were used to push the visitors ahead to a 20-13 advantage, cruising to the 25-16 opening-set win.

Southern Utah (8-17, 5-9 Summit) jumped ahead in the second set, leading 7-3, before IPFW went on its own scoring stretch, using a 15-9 stretch to lead by two at 18-16. The Thunderbirds rebounded with a 4-0 run, to lead again at 20-18; however, IPFW followed with a 4-0 run of its own to push ahead 22-20, holding on for the 25-22 second-set win.

The fourth set was a series of runs by each team, with IPFW using an 8-0 run behind the serving of McGill to lead by eight at 13-5. SUU answered with a 4-0 run, before the teams traded 3-0 and 4-0 runs, with the Mastodons remaining ahead 23-15 after a Spencer ace. Southern Utah fought back, closing the deficit to three at 23-20 before IPFW closed the door with a Manwaring kill, sending the 'Dons into the fourth set with a 2-1 lead after the 25-21 set score.

IPFW never trailed in the fourth set, leading by nine at 14-5, before the visitors fought back to close to within two at 18-16. With the margin closed to its smallest total since the early portions of the set, IPFW closed out strong behind the serving of Spencer, who had two aces and a kill during a match-ending 7-0 run, giving the Mastodons the four-set win.

Spencer's double-double was her 17th of the season, tied for the seventh most in a single-season in school history, and the most-ever by a freshman, while recording double-figure kills in each of the 24 matches this season, the third longest such streak in program history, and three away from the all-time record.

Alli Hook had a match-high five blocks for IPFW, advancing her into the top-10 all-time in school history with 301 of her career, tied with former teammate Jessica Miller (2005-08), and now 27 behind Clara Schortgen. McGill, now with 1,433 career digs is trailing Fabiana Souza (2002-05) by just one, and behing fourth place (Jamie Schwartz, 2006-09) by just 28.

Analaine Mailoto had a match-high 16 kills in the loss for the Thunderbirds, while adding 13 digs for the double-double.

The Mastodons return to action tomorrow evening when the squad hosts Oral Roberts in the program's Breast Cancer Awareness Night, in which $1 from every ticket sold will be donated to the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer Research. First serve for the match is 7 p.m. at the Gates Sports Center.

~Dons~