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 SU Volleyball Opens "White Era" By Sweeping
OLLU, U of Dallas
Photo: Senior Xandria White pounds one of
her team-high 11 kills vs. University of Dallas
New Schreiner
Volleyball head coach Phillip White got what he
wanted in his first match, a hard fought contest
that tested his players - and a win - as his
Mountaineers bested visiting Our Lady of the
Lake, 3-2. Then later in the afternoon,
Schreiner beat fellow NCAA Division III
University of Dallas in three straight games.
In the opening game of the first match, it was
easy to see that OLLU (1-5) already had match
experience while Schreiner, a non-scholarship
NCAA program, was playing its first match of the
year. The Saints took advantage of SU
nerves and won the opening game 25-19. The
Mountaineers (2-0) settled down in the second
and third games, limited their mistakes, and
came away with two wins by 25-22 and 25-21
scores. In the fourth game, Schreiner
reverted to its first game jitters and allowed
OLLU to get well ahead early. SU trailed
1-8 and 3-10 before rallying. Just when it
looked like Schreiner was going to pull ahead at
14-15, the Mountaineers again fell victim to
some self-inflicted mistakes as the Saints
pulled away for a 25-18 win to even the contest
at two games each.
In the final game, the lead bounced back and
forth. At 9-9, Schreiner went on a
decisive run and kept the visitors from rallying
as White got his first collegiate head coaching
win. Senior Xandria White and sophomore
Caitlyn Gayle led a balanced SU attack with 9
kills each followed by senior Marissa Stearns
and junior Tiffany Miller each with 8.
Gayle, the team's tallest player at 6'3", also
led the team with 14 digs. Senior setter
Malorie Westerholm led all players with 31
assists.
In the University of Dallas match, Schreiner got
a chance to play all its players but still took
care of business by winning expeditiously;
25-20, 25-23 and 25-19. The Mountaineers
started slowly in the afternoon match and fell
behind 3-7. Gayle then proceeded to serve
12 straight points to give SU a 15-7 edge and
never trailed in the game. In the second
game, White started subbing in players to get a
better look at different combinations.
White again led the offensive attack with 11
kills. Gayle added six and Stearns five.
Stearns was the team leader in digs with 11 and
freshman Audra Burnap led both teams with 16
assists in just two games of work.
Like members of the Republican National
Committee, the Mountaineers head to Minneapolis,
MN this week. For Schreiner, they will be
participating in the Augsburg College
Invitational which features several national
volleyball powers, including nationally-ranked
Wisconsin-Eau Claire. SU's first two
matches are on Friday. |
