Mastodons Win Second Straight League Match

Friday, September 21

Vermillion, S.D.

8 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

South Dakota

IPFW

South Dakota

Photo by: Lucas Carter

9/21/2012 10:37:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Box Score

VERMILLION, S.D. -- The IPFW women's volleyball team went on the road to defeat South Dakota tonight 3-1 (25-17, 19-25, 25-14, 25-23). The 'Dons are now 2-1 in the Summit League heading into Sunday's contest with UMKC.

Emily Spencer was the player of the game for IPFW with 20 kills and 12 digs against South Dakota. Spencer led the team with 23 points by adding one service ace and four blocks.

The senior duo of Megan Steenhuysen and Tessa McGill once again delivered for IPFW in their respective categories. Steenhuysen got the offense rolling with 44 assists while also pitching in with eight digs. McGill led all players with a match-high 20 digs. She is now fifth all-time in Summit League history with 1,907 career digs.

Kendall Wienkes just missed a double-double against the Coyotes with nine kills and 11 digs. Each middle hitter for IPFW recorded eight digs on the night. Ripley added three blocks as Manwaring finished with two.

Kendall Kritenbrink recorded a match-high 22 kills for the Coyotes, and Tori Kroll also played well ending Friday night with a match-high 49 assists.

The Mastodons got out to a 3-0 lead in the first set and never slowed down as they cruised to a 25-17 win. Emily Spencer and Hailie Ripley each recorded three kills and a block in the opening set. Senior Megan Steenhuysen set a good pace for the 'Dons by recording 14 assists. Spencer's block gave IPFW their largest lead of the set at 18-10. Haley Emenhiser pushed the lead to 23-15 after back-to-back kills and a South Dakota serving error gave IPFW a 1-0 lead.

South Dakota never led during the first set, but it didn't take the Coyotes long to grab control of the second as they forced IPFW into a timeout after trailing 2-6. An Emily Spencer kill cut the lead to two points (10-12) midway through, but the Coyotes held off the IPFW charge and opened up a nine point lead at 20-11 after a kill from Sydney Dimke. IPFW could not cut into the deficit as the Coyotes tied the match 1-1. Kendall Kritenbrink and Amber Aschoff led South Dakota to a win in set two. Kritenbrink recorded six kills and a block, while Aschoff tallied four kills and two blocks. Spencer was the bright spot for IPFW in the second set. She made two blocks while chipping in with four kills.

IPFW regained momentum with a big win over South Dakota in the third set. The game was tight until Spencer gave IPFW some breathing room by recording three-straight kills. The scoring outbreak made the score 12-7 in favor of IPFW. Serving became crucial midway through the set as Megan Steenhuysen came up with a service ace after the Spencer kill streak and Tessa McGill expanded the lead to 17-10 after back-to-back service aces. The Coyotes could not overcome the lopsided score as Spencer ended the set on a tear, by recording three more kills down the stretch.

The fourth set was highly contested from the start as the two teams found themselves deadlocked at 21-21. IPFW captured a two point lead after an attack error and a kill from Wienkes. The short, two point run forced South Dakota to burn a timeout. The Coyotes scored out of the break, but another error would give IPFW a 24-22 edge. Senior Jessie Manwaring put the game out of reach as her kill gave IPFW at 3-1 win 25-23.

IPFW will return to action on Sunday when they face the UMKC Kangaroos at 3 p.m.

~ Feel the Rumble ~