Carlinville, IL, 10/27/21 – The Westminster College volleyball team needed a win in their last three games to secure the #2 seed in the upcoming SLIAC Tournament.  Blackburn College had eyes on delaying the Blue Jays clinching that seed as they would take the first set 27-25.  The Blue Jays would roar back to win the next three sets to take the match 3-1 (25-27, 25-20, 25-14, 25-23).  The win improved the Blue Jays record to 12-14 overall and 8-2 in the SLIAC.  They are two games up on third place Spalding University with two games to play and the Blue Jays hold the head to head tie breaker over the Golden Eagles by virtue of their season sweep.  The two seed affords the Blue Jays a bye through the opening round into the semi-finals.

The Blue Jays were led offensively by Haley Menke (O'Fallon, MO / Fort Zumwalt West) who had 18 kills and Eryka Wanyonyi (Columbia, MO / Hickman) who followed with ten.  Payton Bledsoe (Mexico, MO / Mexico) and Claire Whitehouse (St. Louis, MO / Parkway Central) each recorded eight kills while Whitehouse hit a team high .294 for the match.  Gretchen Durbala (Burlington, IA / Burlington) recorded 46 assists to lead the Blue Jays.  Erica Schrader (Imperial, MO / St. Pius X) led the defense with 22 digs.  Durbala followed with 16 digs and Wanyonyi had 10 digs.  The Blue Jays were led at the net by Bledsoe who recorded three solo blocks.  Freshmen Sophie Reimer () and Kirsten Schrader (Imperial, MO / St. Pius X) each hit a team high three service aces.

The Blue Jays return home on Friday for their final home game of the season.  The game against Eureka College will serve as the programs 2021 Senior Night where they will honor their three seniors; Erica Schrader, Gretchen Durbala and Claire Whitehouse.  The match is scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. first serve.