From Washington University Athletics
The No. 3-ranked Washington University in St. Louis volleyball team had to play past 25 points in two sets, but came away with a pair of three-set wins over Central College (Iowa) and Millikin University Friday night at the Linda Slagell Dig for the Cure Classic hosted by Millikin.
WashU improved to 28-2 overall with the two wins. Central (13-15) and Millikin (19-10) also both lost to No. 19 University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Friday. The Bears close out their regular-season schedule by hosting Webster University at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. Prior to the match, WashU will honor its four seniors – Anna Bryniarski, Jackie Nelligan, Nkiru Udenze and Allison Zastrow. It will also be Dig for Pink Night at the WU Field House.
No. 3 WashU def. Central 28-26, 25-21, 25-18
WashU jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the opening set, but Central answered with a 10-3 run to take an 11-8 lead. The Dutch stretched the lead to 16-12, before back-to-back attacking errors brought WashU within 16-14. An ace by Nelligan and a block by Udenze and junior Caroline Dupont tied the score at 16-16. Central took the lead again and maintained the advantage until a kill by Nelligan tied it at 23-23. Junior Rexi Sheredy hit a kill off the top of the block to give the Bears a set-point opportunity. The teams traded points until a tip by junior Amanda Palucki and an attack into the net by Central gave WashU the 28-26 win.
The Bears built an early lead again in set two, only to have Central pull even at 8-8. After another tie at 9-9, WashU went on a 7-2 run to open up a five-point advantage at 16-11 on an attacking error by the Dutch. Central closed to within three at 22-19, but kills by Udenze and Sheredy gave WashU set-point and Dupont tooled the block to end the set with a 25-21 win for the Bears. In set three, WashU jumped out to an 11-5 lead after a kill by Udenze. After Central cut the lead to 12-7, the Dutch had a serve sail long and WashU won the next three points with a kill by Sheredy, an attacking error by Central and an ace by Sheredy to make it 16-7 in favor of WashU. A kill by Nelligan gave WashU match-point at 24-15. The Dutch fought off three set-point opportunities, but freshman Julianne Malek hit a kill off the block to end the match with a 25-18 set-three win for the Bears.
WashU hit .164 in the match to .058 for the Dutch. Sheredy led the Bears with 11 kills, nine digs and two aces. Zastrow registered a double-double with 30 assists and 10 digs, while freshman Natalie Stephanus also finished with 10 digs.
No. 3 WashU def. Millikin 25-17, 25-15, 27-25
WashU pulled away midway through the first set and a kill from the back row by Sheredy gave the Bears a 15-8 lead. Millikin battled back to within 18-14, but a kill by Dupont ended the Big Blue run. Sheredy put away a kill to make it 23-16 in favor of the Bears, and an attacking error by Central followed by an ace by Sheredy ended the set. WashU again pulled away midway through set two, and a kill by Dupont made it 21-12 in favor of the Bears. Another kill by Dupont gave WashU a 23-15 advantage. Nelligan then tipped a ball down for a kill with her left hand and an attack by Millikin went into the net as WashU won 25-15.
In set three, WashU grabbed the early lead, but Millikin battled back. The Big Blue took the lead and got a set-point opportunity at 24-21. A kill by Sheredy, followed by a block by Dupont and Sheredy brought WashU within 24-23 and an attacking error by the Big Blue tied the score. After a kill by Millikin gave the team another set-point opportunity, Dupont got a kill to tie it again. A block by Dupont and Sheredy gave WashU match point and the Bears took advantage as a kill by Dupont finished the match with the 27-25 win.
Bear Notebook: WashU improved 18-9 all-time against Central and the teams were meeting for the first time since 2012 … The Bears are 10-3 all-time against Millikin.