EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The Gustavus volleyball team came out strong on the first day of the Sandy Schumacher Memorial Tournament winning both matches in three sets to improve to 6-4 on the season.
In set one Gustavus got out on top early and didn’t trail at all as they maintained a small lead the whole set until they pulled away late to take the set 25-17.
In the second set the two teams played even early with Gustavus holding an 8-7 lead before the Gusties got rolling and closed out the set on a 17-5 run to take it 25-12.
The Black and Gold kept their momentum rolling in set three, never trailing in the set and holding off a late Wildcat push to secure the set 25-21.
Kate Holtan (Jr., Rochester, Minn.) finished the match with a team high 10 kills while first-years Rhyan Herrmann (Fy., Brownton, Minn.) and Sydney Olson (Fy. Willmar, Minn.) both finished with seven. Mitaya Johnson (Sr., Kasson, Minn.) and Kaylyn Johnston (Fy., Urbana, Ill.) both distributed double-digit assists with Johnson recording 14 and Johnston notching 12. Hailey Embacher (Jr., Mankato, Minn.) finished with 11 digs for the Black and Gold.
In match two the Gusties were able to finish strong down the stretch in all three sets to take the victory. In set one the Black and Gold were able to rally from a 13-11 deficit thanks to an 11-3 run to take the first set 25-20.
In the second set the Gusties were able to maintain a lead for nearly the whole set until the Muskies were able to fight back and even things at 25 all. However, two straight attack errors for Lakeland gave the set to the Gusties.
Set three started out with the Muskies taking a 7-1 lead but after a Gustavus timeout the Black and Gold were able to battle their way back. The Gusties were able to even the game up at 15 and eventually take a 22-20 lead before the Muskies would score two straight to even it at 22. Gustavus would close the set getting kills on three of the last four points to take the match.
In the match, Holtan led the Gusties once again with 12 kills while Herrmann and Sarah Elliott (Fy., Lombard, Ill.) had eight. Johnston finished the match with 23 set assists while Johnson had 15. Embacher, Herrmann, and Holtan all finished with 15 digs for the Black and Gold.
The Gusties are back in action tomorrow at 1 and 3 p.m.