CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Lindenwood women's volleyball team (15-2, 5-0 OVC) won three straight over SEMO (11-7, 4-1 OVC) to move its win streak to 10 in a battle of undefeated OVC foes.
With the opening set tied at four, SEMO used a pair of blocks to spark a 4-0 run to go up 8-4. The Redhawks remained in front by a comfortable margin and took the first set 25-16 behind a .467 hitting percentage. Three Lions had two kills apiece in the first set.
Lindenwood won the race to 10 in the second set following a kill by
Autumn Bax to grab an early lead. The Lions continued to hold the advantage up 14-10, but SEMO responded with a mini 3-0 run to cut the deficit one. On the ensuing point,
Kylee Richey came up with a solo stuff to give the Black and Gold a 15-13 lead at the media timeout. The Lions continued to take control of the set as a kill from Richey put Lindenwood up 24-19. However, SEMO closed the gap to 24-23, but
Susanna Beretti put the set away, tying it up at one.
Both teams went back and forth to begin the third. A block by Bax and
Jade Roth put Lindenwood in front, 10-7. The Rehawks responded and jumped in front 15-13. Still trailing 18-15, the Lions rattled off the next four points, capped off by a kill from Roth to take a 20-18 lead. A few points later, Beretti finished off the set once again and Lindenwood led 2-1 after three.
In the fourth, an Ashley Geluk service ace put Lindenwood up 8-4 and forced a SEMO timeout. A few points later, another ace from
Kaci Johnson grew the lead to 13-6. The Redhawks answered with the next five points to get back within two. SEMO eventually took the lead, 18-16 which forced a Lindenwood timeout. Coming out of the break, the Lions settled down. A kill by
Lauren Ortwerth put the Black and Gold up 21-19. They eventually saw out the match with a block by Roth putting things away, 25-22.
Three Lions finished the match with double-digit kills led by Ortwerth with 16. Bax and Geluck had 13 apiece with Geluk hitting a solid .522. The victory moved Lindenwood's winning streak to 10.
Quotable
"We knew SEMO was going to come right after us and they did a good job of making things hard for us. We were able to get some traction and get into more of a rhythm and score some points. I do not believe it was one of our best matches and we have played a lot cleaner, but sometimes you have to play through those tough times and find ways to win sets." -
Will Condon, Lindenwood Head Coach
Next Up
These two teams will play again tomorrow with first serve coming tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. in Cape Girardeau
