The Gustavus volleyball team turned in four solid performances at the IIAC-MIAC Border Battle in Dubuque, Iowa this past weekend, but could not come up with the important fifth set win in two matches and the result was a 0-4 record at the tournament. The Gusties lost 3-2 to Central and 3-0 to Loras on Friday, and then fell 3-1 to Wartburg and 3-2 to Simpson on Saturday. The Gusties are now 8-11 on the season.
In Friday’s first match against Central, the Gusties won the first two sets 25-16 and 25-21, but then lost the last three sets by the scores of 22-25, 17-25, and 13-15. Nicki Ainsworth led Gustavus with 11 kills.
In Friday’s second match, Loras handed Gustavus a 3-0 setback by the scores of 25-12, 25-22, 26-24. Malea Noennig registered 28 set assists and Erin Sherman recorded 13 digs.
In Saturday’s first match against Wartburg, the Gusties once again battled the Knights closely but could not pick up the key points at the end of each set. Wartburg won by the scores of 25-21, 26-24, 23-25, 25-16. Angela Ahrendt led the Gusties with 15 kills.
In Saturday’s final match, the Gusties gave Simpson everything it could handle before falling in the fifth set 15-10. The complete match scores were 26-24, 19-25, 25-14, 18-25, and 15-10. Olivia Warren registered 14 kills, while Malea Noennig recorded 44 assists, and Jenny Ewert posted 22 digs.
Gustavus will host two conference matches at home next week including St. Catherine’s on Thursday at 7 pm and Hamline on Saturday at 1 pm.