The Westminster volleyball team dominated Blackburn College in their home-opener on Wednesday, September 16. The 3-0 win brings the Westminster Blue Jays to 5-4 on the season and 2-2 in conference play.
The Blue Jays won set one, 25-12. The team jumped out to an 8-2 lead with kills from sophomore Hannah Marshall, freshman Nikki Testerman and sophomore Natalie Corrigan. Blackburn shortened the lead to 10-5 before the Blue Jays hit a six point rally. The Blue Jays closed out the set by allowing Blackburn just seven more points.
Junior Kayla Reeg had two service aces to give the Blue Jays a 5-0 start to set two. Blackurn got on the board with a kill, but the Blue Jays held them to just five points while they jumped out to a 14 point lead, 19-5. Blackburn rallied to bring the game within eight, 20-12, but two kills by Testerman ended Blackburn's two scoring rallies. Senior Caroline Will was back to serve with just one pointed needed, and she served an ace to end the set, 25-16.
Blackburn had a quick start in set three, taking an early 4-0 lead over Westminster. The Blue Jays trailed until they tied the game with an attack error by Blackburn. The lead changed multiple times, and when Blackburn went up 18-16, the Blue Jays called a timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Marshall put down a kill with the assist from Reeg. A block from Marshall and sophomore Briana Patlan tied the game at 18-18, but an attack error by the Blue Jays gave the lead back to Blackburn. Blackburn scored three straight points to take the 22-19 lead, but Patlan grabbed a kill and Reeg served an ace. Westminster took the lead with another block from Marshall and Patlan, but Blackburn tied the game with a block of their own, 23-23. Patlan laid down another kill to take the 24-23 lead, and Marshall ended the set and match with a kill.
Reeg led the pace of the Blue Jay attack with 34 assists, and Marshall led the Blue Jay attack with 13 kills. Freshman Micha Frasher ended the three sets with a .364 hitting percentage. Junior Amanda Kiso had three blocks on the night, and three Blue Jays led the defense with nine digs (Testerman, Will and freshman Bridget Ringwald).
The Blue Jays continue their busy week on Friday, September 18, at the Millikin Fall Frenzy. They play Rose-Hulman at 6:00 p.m., followed by an 8:00 p.m. match versus Millikin. Live video and stats will be available for the 8:00 p.m. game here.
