Columbus, MS 9/23/2023- The Westminster College volleyball team traveled to Columbus, Mississippi to start the SLIAC season and face off against conference newcomer, Mississippi University for Women (MUW), and Spalding University in the MUW Tri-Match. The Blue Jays came to play, sweeping MUW (25-13,25-18,25-16) and Spalding (25-18,25-14,25-14) to improve to 2-0 in the SLIAC and 5-7 overall on the season. 

Vs MUW: Box Score 

The Blue Jays would jump on the Owls in the first set and set the tone for the match winning 25-13. The Owls would battle in the second set but would fall 25-18 and then Westminster would close it out 25-16 in the third set. 

Malena Bixby led the Blue Jays offense with 14 kills, and she would have another double-double, picking up 10 digs in the match. Westminster setter, Braylee Montgomery, would have 31 assists, and libero, Kirsten Schrader, would lead the team in digs with 14. Montgomery would have three aces as well. 

Vs Spalding: Box Score 

Westminster would keep the momentum rolling into the match against Spalding and sweep the Golden Eagles 3-0. Set one was back and forth, but the Blue Jays would pull away and win the set 25-18. Then the Blue Jays would cruise and win the next two sets 25-14. 

The Blue Jays would have a three-headed attack with Malena Bixby and Kylie Hasselbacher getting nine kills and Meghan Nolte would put down seven kills. Newcomer, Madisyn Ellis, would also get in on the action and have seven kills as well. 

Schrader led the way defensively with fourteen digs and Bixby would have ten digs of her own. Hasselbacher would have a big solo block. Montgomery had twenty-seven assists and four aces. 

The Blue Jays look to keep rolling as they host Blackburn College in the conference home opener on Wednesday, September 27th. The game will start at 7:00 p.m.