Janessa Jahnke led Gustavus with a total of 20 kills on day one of the Sugarloaf Classic.
Winona, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus volleyball team suffered a pair of losses on the opening day of the 2014 Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic being held in the Gostomski Fieldhouse located on the campus of Saint Mary’s University. The Gusties suffered a 3-2 loss to Illinois Wesleyan University to start the day and then later fell 3-0 to Wartburg to close out the night.
The Gustavus volleyball team will face the University of Dubuque at 12:00 p.m. and North Park University at 2:00 p.m. to cap off the Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic on Saturday, Aug. 30.
Gustavus vs. Illinois Wesleyan Recap
Despite finding themselves in a 2-0 hole in their opening match of the 2014 season, the Gusties won sets three and four to tie the contest at 2-2. Illinois Wesleyan cruised to a 25-15 win in set one, then won the second set by the score of 25-20. Gustavus took the third 25-19 and the fourth 25-17 to send the match into a decisive fifth frame. The Black and Gold’s comeback hopes fell short, however, as Illinois Wesleyan took the finale 15-9.
Becca Woodstra (Jr., Minnetonka, Minn.) and Janessa Jahnke (So., Blue Earth, Minn.) led the Gustie offense with double-figure kills. Woodstra turned in a match-high 13 kills with an attack percentage of .205, and Jahnke recorded 12 kills with an attack percentage of .161.
As a team, Gustavus hit at a 18.4-percent rate compared to the Titans’ 24.7-percent clip.
Paige Breneman (Sr., Sherburn, Minn.) led the way defensively with a match-high 32 digs. Natalie Watkins (So., Alexandria, Minn.) finished behind Breneman with 18 digs, while Kendra Weege (Sr., Watertown, Minn.) and Marisa Morgan (Fy., Rockford, Ill.) each had 10.
Marisa Morgan and Rachel Arnold (Jr., Kimball, Minn.) shared the setting duties and finished 24 and 15 assists, respectively.
Gustavus vs. Wartburg Recap
The Gusties struggled to get on track in their nightcap against Wartburg. The Knights posted 36 kills and hit at a rate of .314 compared to Gustavus’s 24 kills and .061 attack percentage. Wartburg picked up the 3-0 sweep via set scores of 25-15, 25-13, and 25-18.
Janessa Jahnke led the way with eight kills, while Alyssa Taylor (Jr., Trimont, Minn.) and Sammy Kremer (Fy., Lakeville, Minn.) each registered four.
Paige Breneman led all players with 18 digs. Marisa Morgan finished with 13 assists, while Rachel Arnold came in behind her with eight.