The Gustavus volleyball team picked up their third Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory of the season with a 3-0 victory over the College of St. Catherine Saturday in St. Peter. Sophomore Andrea Kron (Cold Spring, Minn.) led the Gusties with 15 kills, while first-year Bridget Burtzel (Cold Spring, Minn.) added 30 assists. St. Kate’s was led by Kayla Reed, who registered 11 kills and 12 digs. Whitney Sparby added 28 assists and seven digs for the Wildcats, now 2-9 and 0-3 in the MIAC. Gustavus improved to 9-5 overall and 3-1 in the MIAC with the win.
The Gusties built a 10-0 run to start game one behind three service aces by junior outside hitter Jessica Plemel (Owatonna, Minn.). Gustavus held the Wildcats to a .024 hitting percentage during the game while knocking home 15 kills with only two errors for a .371 hitting percentage.
In game two, Gustavus jumped out to an early 12-1 lead and kept building, accumulating 18 kills on 44 attacks en route to a 30-21 victory.
The Gusties jumped out to another big lead in game three, leading 22-14 after a block by Jennifer Thelemann (Le Sueur, Minn.)and Jami Moseng (Montevideo, Minn.). The Wildcats would charge back, though, to take a 28-27 lead. A St. Kate’s attack error would put the Gusties back on serve, with the score tied at 28. A kill by Moseng would give Gustavus a 29-28 and an opportunity to put the match away. Following a long rally, an errant Wildcat attack brought the match to an end.
With her 15 kills, Kron has accumulated double-digits in kills in 12 of 14 matches this season. Moseng and junior Becca Thompson (Mankato, Minn.) finished with 11 and 9 kills, respectively, to assist in the Gustie effort.
Gustavus travels to Arden Hills on Wednesday to face Bethel University in another MIAC tilt. The Royals enter the match 13-3 overall and 3-0 in the MIAC.
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