September 17, 2010
(KIRKSVILLE, Mo.) – Sophomore Megan Sharpe hit .407 and put away 14 kills, while the 16th-ranked Truman volleyball squad held visiting Washburn to just a .068 hitting percentage en route to a 3-1 (18-25, -18, 26-24, -17) upset of the No. 3 Lady Blues on Friday night in Pershing Arena.
Truman (8-2, 1-1 MIAA) hit .171 as a team, including a .341 mark in the fourth set, to hand 3rd-ranked Washburn (9-1, 1-1 MIAA) its first loss of the season. In addition, the Bulldog defense stood strong, forcing 26 WU attack errors, never allowing the Lady Blues to hit more than .100 in a single frame, and recording 11 total blocks.
“Tonight, we got a great win against a very good Washburn team,” head coach
Ben Briney said. “I am very proud of the girls tonight. Before the match, I challenged them to come out and play compelled, and they rose to the challenge.”
The two squads split 25-18 decisions in the first two sets, before Washburn appeared to be poised to take the third set after building a 23-20 lead. But the Bulldogs responded, using a WU service error to start a four-point rally and re-take the lead at 24-23.
A service error by Truman evened the score at 24, before another Washburn service error preceded a put-away by sophomore
Allyson Stellmach (Huntley, Ill., Huntley), giving the 'Dogs a 26-24 win in the third set.
Washburn again appeared ready to pull away in the fourth set, taking a 12-7 lead and forcing a Briney timeout. But after the Lady Blues held on to a 15-12 advantage, the Bulldogs exploded, winning 11 of the next 12 points and 13 of the next 15 to take the match, 25-17.
Sharpe (Edwardsville, Ill., Edwardsville), sophomore outside hitter
Heather Hargadine (Labadie, Mo., St. Francis Borgia) and sophomore right-side
Lauren Radix (Black Earth, Wis., Wisconsin Heights) handled the fourth-set offense by combining for 15 kills and committing just one error on 28 attempts.
On a night when defense reigned supreme, three Truman seniors shined on the back row, as libero
Casey Bruno (Pearland, Texas, Lutheran South) finished with 29 digs,
Allison Barker (Racine, Wis., Racine Lutheran) recorded a career-high 24, and
Ashley Petak (Omaha, Neb., Bellevue West) closed out a double-double with ten digs to go with a match-high 27 assists. The Bulldogs out-dug Washburn, 82-80, on the night.
Hargadine joined Sharpe in double-figures with 11 kills, with Radix adding eight. Each tacked on three block assists for the match.
Sophomore middle blocker
Emily Briseno (Lee's Summit, Mo., Lee's Summit West) led all players with six blocks (two solo).
Jessica Fey paced the Lady Blues with nine kills on 28 attacks.
Truman returns to the court tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon at 4 pm to face Fort Hays State.
