9/15/2024 Fulton, MO - The Westminster Women's Volleyball team had another busy weekend, traveling to Monmouth, IL and playing 4 matches, finishing with a 2-2 record. The Blue Jays secured victories against Knox College and Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) but fell short in competitive matches against Monmouth College and Central College (Iowa).
Westminster started the weekend strong with a commanding 3-0 win over Knox College. The Blue Jays dominated all three sets, winning 25-16, 25-19, and 25-17. The team's balanced attack and defensive cohesion were on full display, giving them their first win of the weekend.
Senior outside hitter Kylie Hasselbacher led the charge with 10 kills and a hitting percentage of .409. Madisyn Ellis contributed 9 kills, and Meghan Nolte added 6 kills with an impressive .500 hitting percentage. On defense, Haylie Schnake anchored the backline with 14 digs, while Emma Behrmann recorded 11 assists and 5 digs. The team's well-rounded performance was key in securing their first win of the weekend.
In their second match, Westminster faced a tougher challenge against Monmouth College. The Blue Jays took the first set 25-16 but could not maintain momentum, dropping the next three sets 25-17, 25-22, and 25-22. Despite a strong opening, Westminster fell 3-1.
Hasselbacher contributed 17 kills, while Ellis and Live Hart contributed 13 digs each. Despite the loss, Ellis put up 8 kills, while Schnake recorded 27 digs, highlighting her consistent defensive presence.
Westminster bounced back in their third match, defeating MSOE in four sets. After dropping the first set 25-17, the Blue Jays responded by winning the next three sets 25-21, 25-20, and 25-16. The team's resilience and aggressive play helped them secure their second win of the weekend.
Nolte contributed 14 kills, and Hart had a strong showing with 26 assists and 9 digs. Schnake remained steadfast on defense, tallying 15 digs to keep Westminster in control of the match.
Game Four vs. Central (Iowa):
In the final match of the weekend, Westminster faced Central College (Iowa). Despite putting up a strong fight, the Blue Jays were unable to come out on top, losing 3-1. Westminster managed to take one set but could not hold off Central's attack in the other three sets.
Hasselbacher had a standout performance with 14 kills while Ellis added 8 kills. Behrmann contributed 18 assists and 10 digs, and Schnake finished with 17 digs to lead the team defensively.
The Blue Jays finished the weekend with a 2-2 record, bringing their overall record to 3-11. Westminster will look to build on their performance as they host the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy on Tuesday, September 17 at 7:00PM.
