Mastodons Block Out Broncos in Sweep

Tuesday, September 10

Kalamazoo, Mich.

7 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

6-2

Western Michigan

5-2

IPFW

Western Michigan

Photo by: Lucas Carter

9/10/2013 9:11:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BOX SCORE | BOX SCORE (.pdf) | BOX SCORE (.html)

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Behind 13 blocks by the Mastodons, and 18 kills by junior Emily Spencer, the IPFW Mastodons swept their match against the Western Michigan Broncos by scores of 28-26, 25-23, 25-23 on Tuesday evening.

With the win, IPFW improves to 6-2 on the season, while Western Michigan falls to 5-2.

Sarah Heckman blocked a match-high nine kill attempts, while Spencer had six blocks (one solo), with Madison Spence adding five blocks. Spencer was the only player in double-figure kills for IPFW, as Katie Higginbotham added five. Spence dished out 32 assists, while Jen Milligan had a match-high nine digs.

In the first set, the Broncos jumped out quickly, and looked to have the set in hand, leading 23-16 before the IPFW defense came out in full force. IPFW cut the deficit by one with a kill from Sarah Heckman, before the 'Dons scored four straight points on blocks and a kill from Emily Spencer forced the hosts into a timeout with the deficit cut to one at 23-22.

Follwing the timeout, IPFW scored the next two points to take a one-point, 24-23 lead, and back-to-back service errors put IPFW ahead 25-24 before back-to-back points put the Broncos back on top, serving for set point. The Mastodons responded back with a kill from Spencer, and back-to-back Bronco attack errors gave the Mastodons the come-from-behind win.

The second set saw two lead changes and 13 tie scores through the 25 points, and the largest lead gained by either side would be three points when Western Michigan went ahead 10-7. With the Broncos leading 22-20 and after an IPFW timeout, IPFW rallied for three straight scores on a WMU ball handling error and back-to-back blocks to take to a 23-22 lead, and used a WMU service error and another ball handling error to claim the 25-23 set victory.

The Mastodons jumped out quickly to start the set, and led 9-6 before the Broncos ran off a 5-1 run to take a one-point, 11-10 lead. IPFW answered quickly with a 4-0 run, and never trailed again in the match. Western Michigan would draw to a 23-23 tie late in the set; however, kills by Hailie Ripley and Kendall Wienkes closed the door on any comeback attempt, as the Mastodons swept the Broncos.

IPFW had 36 total kills in the win, hitting .175 (36 kills, 19 errors, 97 attempts), while Western Michigan hit .123 (38 kills, 25 errors, 106 attempts).

Stephenee Yancy led the Broncos with 12 kills, while Lexie Pawlk had 27 assists.

The Mastodons return to action on Friday, September 13 when the squad faces off against the Michigan State Spartans in the first match of the Butler Invitational.

~ Feel the Rumble ~