Statesmen Avenge Loss to Bobcats, Return to .500 in Heart

Oskaloosa--The William Penn women's volleyball team earned another important win in Heart of America Athletic Conference play Tuesday as it defeated Peru State 3-2.

WPU (15-11, 5-5 Heart), which won by scores of 23-25, 25-19, 25-20, 22-25, 17-15, avenged a 3-1 loss to PSC (10-15, 5-7 Heart) from earlier this season.  It is the first time the team has been .500 in league action since being 1-1 on September 17.

In a matchup of programs battling for the final spots in next month's Heart Tournament, the navy and gold overcame a .164-.127 deficit in hitting by posting a 13-7 edge in aces.

The Bobcats blew out to a 14-5 edge in the first set, but the hosts battled back with eight unanswered.  The Statesmen drew even a few times after that, including at 23-23, but could not get over the hump in dropping the opening round.

A complete reversal of fortunes occurred in the second set with William Penn scoring the first four points and going up 12-4 before Peru State caught fire and closed to within one at 18-17.  Fortunately, two kills by Emilie Bojorquez-McFadden (So., Surprise, Ariz., Undecided), coupled with two blocks by the sophomore, pushed the Statesmen to the finish line as they tied the match at one set apiece.

The third round was fairly tight, but WPU trailed for much of it, until finally scoring four in a row to go on top at 18-16.  The pendulum swung back in the Bobcats' favor, however, but only momentarily as the navy and gold finished with the last six points to win the set.

Trailing 11-7 in the fourth, the home squad rattled off 10 of the next 11 points and had Peru State up against the proverbial wall.  Unfortunately, the Statesmen could not finish the deal, and the visitors forced a fifth and decisive set.

Despite losing the first point in the fifth set, William Penn led the entire way.  The victors eventually stretched their margin to four at 14-10, but the Bobcats did not surrender, fighting off five match points before Katlyn Jeter (Sr., Solon, Iowa, Business Management) finally slammed the door shut with her team-high 15th kill.

The senior managed a double-double with 15 winners and 13 digs, while Jade Melton (Hallsville, Mo., Psychology) matched Jeter with her own double-double of 11 kills and 16 digs.

The balanced WPU attack also featured nine kills by Patricia De Souza (Sr., Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sports Management), eight via Cate Hahn (Sr., St. Charles, Mo., Biology), and seven from Khiani Jackson (Jr., St. Joseph, Mo., Psychology).

Emalee Young (So., O'Fallon, Mo., Nursing) tallied 27 assists as William Penn's top setter, while Lydia Huston (Jr., Kansas City, Mo., Biology) recorded 19.  Young ended up with the team's third double-double, having also posted 16 digs Tuesday.

Young topped the servers with five aces, while Jazlynn Jimenez (Sr., Fort Mohave, Ariz., Sociology) contributed three more.

Kaya Caprini (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn., Psychology) guided the defense with 30 digs, while the duo of De Souza and Bojorquez-McFadden each had four block assists.  William Penn edged PSC 9-8 in total blocks.

"Tonight was a big win for our program," Head Coach Lauren Eldridge said.  "It took all of us to get it, and we had some players step up in big ways in big moments.  We fought for every point with grit and togetherness.  I am proud of our team for staying calm and playing together."

Next Up: William Penn travels to Canton, Mo. Saturday to face Culver-Stockton in Heart play at 2 p.m.