Volleyball Wins a Pair at Homecoming Triangular
Oct 16, 2015
DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque volleyball team defeated North Central (Minn.) College, 3-1 (25-21, 25-11, 23-25, 25-11), and Blackburn College (Ill.), 3-0 (25-19, 25-9, 25-18) on Friday night at the UD Spartan Triangular on Homecoming Friday night.
North Central (Minn.) Box Score
UD wins 3-1 (25-21, 25-11, 23-25, 25-11)
The Spartans (14-13, 2-3 Iowa Conference) utilized another efficient performance by senior Klaudia Basierak in lighting up North Central (Minn.) with a .306 hitting percentage over the course of the match.
Basierak posted a game-high 18 kills and a .471 hitting clip as UD started slow, but finished fast. Despite hitting .353 in set one, the Spartans slid by the Rams in a four-point margin. UD coasted in sets two and four after holding North Central (9-13, 0-4 UMAC) to a -.028 and -.086 hitting percentage, respectively.
It was set three that got dicey as UD gave up the lead late despite Basierak's eight kills to force a fourth set. Sophomore Karrah Davis backed up Basierak with nine kills, while freshman Anna Grace impressed with seven kills in 12 attempts for a game-high .583 percentage. Junior Hannah Zieser posted 28 assists and junior Kristin Wright snagged 17 digs.
Overall, the Rams hit .066 on the night as the Spartans won the first meeting between these two teams.
Blackburn Box Score
UD wins 3-0 (25-19, 25-9, 25-18)
Blackburn, winners of three games coming into tonight's match, gave the Spartans all they could handle in the first set as UD took care of business in sets two and three.
UD started slow in facing a Blackburn squad that rode momentum from a hard-fought, five-set win over North Central (Minn.) that occurred half an hour earlier. Once UD seized control over Blackburn (3-21, 1-12 SLIAC) towards the latter half of set one they never looked back.
The Spartans middle hitter, junior Anna Runge, who averaged a little over one kill per set on the season, shined after producing a season-high 10 kills and a .500 hitting percentage. Runge, normally a defensive threat, sits second in the Iowa Conference with 1.00 block per set and added a game-high three block assists in the victory. Her presence on the front line allowed the Spartans to hold Blackburn to .086 hitting percentage on the match, including .000 in the final set.
It was a total team effort as 16 players saw action in UD's second straight win. Most were able to contribute in the third set as UD took control midway through as they coasted to a 25-18 final set win.
Other standout performances include freshman Jenna Runde's team-high 15 digs and junior Hannah Zieser's all-around double-double of 21 assists and 10 digs.
All four Spartan wins in the overall series have been sweeps for UD.
Armed with a two-game winning streak, the Spartans continue towards their fifth-straight Iowa Conference tournament berth at Buena Vista next Wednesday, October 21 at 7:30 p.m. on the road. The Beavers are currently tied with Wartburg and Luther for the conference lead with a 4-1 IIAC record.
Note: A handful of Spartan volleyball alumni were honored by Head Coach April Elsbernd between the second and third sets against Blackburn.
