GC Volleyball Rolls, Gets Revenge in Dominant Week

Written and media by Brian Ehresman [divide]

Photo from Greenville College Volleyball
Photo from Greenville College Volleyball

Playing against the team that ended your season  the previous year can create bittersweet feelings.  Dominating that team helps erase some of the bitterness.

Photo by Laurie Hannula
Photo by Laurie Hannula

The Greenville College Women’s Volleyball team traveled to Louisville, Kentucky the weekend of September 19th to play Spalding, the team that upset them in the first round of the conference tournament last season.  The Lady Panthers used last season’s loss as motivation to turn the tables and sweep the match from Spalding, not allowing the Golden Eagles to even reach 20 points in a set. Allyson Mitchell led the GC offense with 11 kills and a .550 hitting percentage to go along with six service aces.  Kirsten Laune dished out 28 assists and Jamie Schollenbruch contributed 11 digs.  A huge statistic for the match was Greenville out blocking Spalding 11-3 and keeping the Golden Eagles’ offense off-balance with 13 services aces.

“After losing to Spalding in the conference tournament last year, it made this weekend’s game against them special.  We were ready to battle and show them what Greenville volleyball is all about.  The motivation was very evident by our performance,” Mitchell said.

Jamie Schollenbruch.  Photo by Laurie Hannula.
Jamie Schollenbruch. Photo by Laurie Hannula.

“I definitely think we were extra motivated to play them (Spalding) after having that chip on our shoulder from losing to them twice last year,” Laune added.

GC also played another conference foe that weekend in Louisville, as the Lady Panthers were pushed to four sets in a 3-1 win over Principia.  Mitchell again led Greenville at the net with 15 kills and five service aces, while Laune spread out 42 assists.  Schollenbruch dug up 32 spikes and Savannah Sells had six blocks.

 

Photo by Laurie Hannula.
Photo by Laurie Hannula.

Earlier in the week, Greenville faced a stiff challenge from Lincoln Christian University and was forced to go the distance during a 3-2 win in Lincoln.  Mitchell slammed 18 kills and Sierah Ruffner added 12 off of Laune’s 47 assists to lead the offense.

“This past week I thought we played very well.  We came together and really had fun playing the sport that we love,” Mitchell said.  “Our communication and energy were great assets.”

The three wins moved Greenville’s record to 7-5 overall and 4-0 in the SLIAC.

“This week we just need to work hard and continue pushing each other to get better,” Laune stated.

Next week, the Lady Panthers will look to extend their six-match winning streak against St Mary of the Woods at home on Tuesday.  After that matchup, the team will be traveling to Blackburn on Saturday to face the host Beavers and the defending SLIAC tournament champion Webster Gorlocks.

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