Decatur, IL, 10/16/21 – The Blue Jays played their second game in the Millikin 5 State Classic Saturday afternoon against the Simpson College Storm. The Blue Jays showed a lot of heart in the first two sets pushing the Storm to the brink but eventually falling in straight sets (21-25, 23-25, 16-25). The loss drops the Blue Jay record to 10-12 overall and they remain 6-1 in the SLIAC. Simpson improves to 8-8 and is 4-1 in the ARC.
The Blue Jays battled through sets one and two. A Gretchen Durbala (Burlington, IA / Burlington) tip kill tied the second set at 23 but the Storm would score the last two points to take the set 25-23 and a 2-0 lead. The Storm would finish the match with a 25-16 win in set three.
The Blue Jays were led offensively by Eryka Wanyonyi (Columbia, MO / Hickman) with eight kills. Payton Bledsoe (Mexico, MO / Mexico) and Haley Menke (O'Fallon, MO / Fort Zumwalt South) with five kills each. Durbala recorded a team high 19 assists. Erica Schrader (Imperial, MO / St. Pius X) led the Jays defensive effort with 10 digs. Claire Whitehouse (St. Louis, MO / Parkway Central) led the Blue Jays at the net with two solo blocks and three total blocks.
The Blue Jays will be back in action in game three of the Millikin 5 State Classic. They will take on the hosts the Millikin University Big Blue at 3:00 p.m.
