Volleyball Defeats Bethany 3-0, Falls To Simpson 3-1 To Close Gustavus Invitational Posted on September 14th, 2013 by Ethan Armstrong

Kendra Weege digs out a ball on Saturday at the Gustavus Invitational.

St. Peter, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus volleyball team concluded the 2013 Gustavus Invitational with a 3-0 win over Bethany Lutheran College and a 3-1 loss to Simpson College on Saturday afternoon on Gus Young Court. While Augsburg College took first with a perfect 4-0 mark over the weekend, the Gusties finished alongside Simpson in second place in the tournament standings with a record of 3-1. Gustavus has now won four of its last five matches and will enter MIAC play next week with a 5-7 record overall.

In four matches and a total 14 sets on Friday and Saturday, Gustavus posted a much-improved attack percentage of .254, which ranked second amongst the tournament field of seven teams. The Gusties tallied the most aces with 34 and averaged 10.79 assists per set (3rd), 1.64 blocks per set (3rd), and 13.21 digs per set (5th).

Gustavus vs. Bethany Recap

The Gusties carried the momentum of yesterday into their first match of Saturday to earn their second straight sweep by taking down Bethany Lutheran 3-0. Gustavus cruised to the victory by set scores of 25-14, 25-12, and 25-9.

The Gusties recorded 42 kills and a season-best attack percentage of .388, topping their previous high mark of .330 from yesterday against Central. Leading the offensive charge was Kelle Nett (So., Spring Valley, Minn.), who led all players in the match with 12 kills. Much like her front row teammate Janessa Jahnke’s (Fy., Blue Earth, Minn.) performance last night where she posted 16 kills with a .556 attack percentage, Nett took efficiency to another level against the Vikings. She finished with zero attack errors for a season-best hitting percentage .750.

Taylor Meurer dishes out a back set.

Nett’s showing at the net is the best by a Gustie since Meghan Gehring `10 hit the floor with 13 kills for an attack percentage of .765 following an error free match on Sept. 5, 2009 against St. Scholastica.

Gustavus’s defense was led by Paige Breneman (Jr., Sherburn, Minn.) and Rachel Mazzola (Fy., La Crosse, Wis.) who both turned in 10 digs.

Taylor Meurer (Jr., Nicollet, Minn.) finished with 31 assists, going over the 30 mark for the forth consecutive match.

Box Score

Gustavus vs. Simpson Recap

In their final match of the weekend, the Gusties found themselves down 1-0 for the first time in the tournament after Simpson took the opening frame 25-15. Gustavus bounced back in the second set with a 25-21 win. In two tightly-contested sets, Simpson outlasted the Gusties late in the set twice to earn the victory after winning the third 25-20 and the fourth 25-21.

The Storm had four players finish with kills in the double-figures, as Kat Wetjen led the way with 15 (.355).

Janessa Jahnke paced all hitters by matching her season-high of 16 kills to go along with a .400 attack percentage. Alyssa Taylor (Jr., Trimont, Minn.) was next in line with 11 kills and a .147 hitting percentage.

Taylor Meurer recorded 40 or more assists for the third time this season, ending up with a total 40 to go along with 11 digs. Meurer shelled out a total of 140 assists (10.00 a/set) on the weekend to lead all setters in the tournament.

Paige Breneman was once again the team’s leader in digs with 15. Breneman earned a spot on the 2013 Gustavus Invitational All-Tournament Team after tallying 55 digs for an average of 4.23 digs per set.

Box Score

Photo Galley

The Gustavus Adolphus volleyball team will kick off its MIAC season on Wednesday, Sept. 18 with a match against Carleton College at 7:00 p.m. on Gus Young Court.