The Gustavus volleyball team ended its season Saturday afternoon by defeating Saint Mary’s 3-0 in St. Peter. The Golden Gusties season ended since a Hamline win Friday night eliminated Gustavus from playoff contention. Defense was the difference in the match as Gustie blockers and back row players frustrated Saint Mary’s offense throughout the contest. Three Gusties reached double-figures in kills, as Saint Mary’s was outhit 38-52.
Defense, especially the back row play of Emily Klein (Jr., Red Wing, Minn.) and Jenny Ewert (Fy., St. James, Minn.), helped jump start the Gustavus offense in game one. The Gusties went on a 10-4 run midway through the set highlighted by six kills and three blocks on the way to a 30-25 win.
Saint Mary’s established a 15-11 in the second game, but Gustavus chipped away the lead before tying the set at 20-20. Another 10-4 run closed out the game and was capped off when Meghan Gehring (So., Eau Claire, Wisc.) blocked a Jessica Mate hit.
Gustavus began the decisive game with three straight blocks to jump out to a 5-0 lead. Everything went in favor of the Gusties from there, building a 27-18 lead before winning 30-26 when Jen Thelemann (Sr., Le Sueur, Minn.) hit the last kill of her career.
Andrea Kron (Sr., Cold Spring, Minn.) finished with a match-high 17 kills to end her college career with 1,328 kills and third on the all-time kills list at Gustavus. Thelemann had 13 kills to bring her career total to 1,171 kills and place her at sixth on the all-time kills list. Gehring contributed 11 kills and eight blocks to the winning effort. Gustavus ended the season with a 18-8 overall record and 6-5 MIAC record. Saint Mary’s dropped to 17-12 overall and 3-8 in the MIAC.