Volleyball Recap: Truman Takes Two at McKendree Classic

Match 1 FINAL: Truman 3, McKendree 0 (20-25, -23, -23, -17) || Box Score
Match 2 FINAL: Truman 3, #20 West Texas A&M (-20, -21,- 23) || Box Score
2014 Schedule || 2014 Season Stats

LEBANON, Ill. - - The Truman volleyball team extended its win streak to five with a pair of victories on Saturday afternoon on the McKendree (Ill.) University campus. The Bulldogs defeated the host Bearcats 3-1 in a Great Lakes Valley Conference tilt in the opener before sweeping aside No. 20 West Texas A&M in the finale.

The Bulldogs (7-2, 3-0 GLVC) used high output on both sides of the net to earn two wins, as Truman hit .245 (McK) and .278 (WTAMU) offensively while also recording double-digit blocks in both matches. Senior Allie Brak went for double-figure kills in both matches, while juniors Abby Heise and Ali Patterson, along with sophomore Kayla Bastian each topped ten kills once.

"I am pleased to come away with two wins today," head coach Ben Briney said. "It really prepares us for a potential postseason slate where you have to play three quality opponents in three days. McKendree made us work for every single point, and to come out with a win against a great program like West Texas is great."

Truman dug itself an early hole against McKendree in a GLVC-counting contest, as the Bearcats (5-3) jumped ahead 1-0 with a 25-20 opening set victory. However, the Bulldogs rallied to win a pair of close second and third sets before cruising to a 25-17 victory in the fourth. Brak led all players with 15 kills, three aces, and three blocks, while Heise finished with a .375 attack line behind 13 kills and five blocks. Senior Meghan Zimmerman led all players with 39 assists, with both Abby Moser (12) and Sidney King (10) totaling double-figure digs.

Then, in the nightcap, Truman had its first shot at a nationally-ranked program this season and took full advantage with a 3-0 sweep of perennial power West Texas A&M. The Bulldogs hit .278 for the match and finished with 10 blocks against the Lady Buffs (8-3), all while limiting WT to a .120 hitting line and just four blocks. Truman sided-out at a 67 percent clip and was led by a trio of 'Dogs offensively – Patterson (13 kills), Bastian (13 kills), and Brak (12 kills). Patterson went for 10 blocks for a double-double, while both Brak (11 digs) and Zimmerman (35 assists, 16 digs) each posted double-doubles of their own. Zimmerman was the team leader in both categories, with Moser adding 14 digs along the back line.

The Bulldogs will look for their sixth straight victory on Sunday afternoon in a re-match with Illinois Springfield at 1 p.m. in Springfield, Ill. The Bulldogs defeated UIS 3-1 in Kirksville on Sept. 10 in a non-conference matchup.

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