IPFW Women’s Volleyball Defeats Georgia 3-1

Saturday, September 8

East Lansing, Mich.

10 a.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

8-2

Georgia

6-2

Georgia

IPFW

Photo by: Lucas Carter

IPFW Women’s Volleyball Defeats Georgia 3-1

9/8/2012 12:48:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Box Score

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The IPFW women's volleyball team improved to 8-2 on Saturday morning by defeating the Georgia Bulldogs 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 25-16, 28-26). The win was IPFW's first victory over an SEC opponent since 1984 when they knocked off the Florida Gators 3-1.

Senior Jessie Manwaring played a large role in the win with a career-high 18 kills against the Bulldogs. She posted an attack percentage of .412 and controlled the net with a career-high nine blocks. The Mastodons had two players reach a double figure kill total as sophomore Emily Spencer ended the match with 15. Spencer recorded her second double-double of the tournament and her fifth of the season by adding 11 digs.

Megan Steenhuysen and Kendall Wienkes each recorded seven kills against Georgia. Steenhuysen was incredibly accurate as she recorded seven kills on eight attempts (.875). She also recorded a match-high 47 assists to go along with nine digs.

The IPFW defense played great on Saturday morning as Jen Milligan and Tessa McGill were also able to record double figure dig totals. McGill recorded a match-high 23 digs in the contest while Milligan added a season-high 16.

The Mastodons gained confidence after winning the first set 25-21. They charged back to tie the set at 21-21 after trailing 17-20. Manwaring sealed the win with two kills and a block down the stretch. The senior recorded seven kills and two blocks in the opening set.

The Bulldogs evened the match by winning the second set 25-23. Tirah Le'au and Chloe Buckendahl led the way for the Bulldogs recording nine and seven kills respectively. IPFW had once again tied the game at 21-21, but this time it was Georgia that would end the set on a run scoring back-to-back points after the tie which led to the win.

The most lopsided set of the match came soon after as the Mastodons cruised to a 25-16 win in set three. Manwaring controlled the net with four kills and four blocks. Steenhuysen got into the offensive action with 11 assists, three kills and a block.

The fourth and final set was a battle to the very end as the Mastodons found themselves in a 5-2 hole early. They fought back to tie the game at 8-8, but were unable to grab the lead until a Manwaring kill pushed the scoreboard to 20-19. Georgia responded and the game would eventually be tied at 26-26. Spencer gave IPFW at 27-26 advantage with a kill off a Steenhuysen assist and the match would be won on the next play as an attack error from Le'au gave IPFW the victory.

The Mastodons will end the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational this afternoon with a match against the Albany Danes. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.

~ Feel the Rumble ~