SLIAC Game of the Week: Webster at Spalding
Posted: Oct 18, 2016

SLIAC Game of the Week: Webster at Spalding

 

At a Glance

This week's SLIAC Game of the Week is Thursday night's volleyball match between Webster University and Spalding University. The two teams each enter the match on three game winning streaks and are just one game apart in the standings. The match is set for a 5 p.m. start, central time, and you can watch Live Video HERE
 

About Spalding University "GOLDEN EAGLES"

Spalding comes into the match with a 16-8 overall record and a 10-4 record in SLIAC play. They have won three straight and six of their last seven. They defeated Blackburn 3-0 in their last match, on Monday night. Spalding is first in the conference in hitting percentage with a .208 mark and average 11.55 kills per set.

Senior middle blocker Jessica Diehl is averaging a career high 3.17 kills per set while hitting a conference high .397 this season. Diehl is also second in the conference in blocks with 84. Senior outside hitter Victoria Heitzman and freshman Alyssa Cosgrove add to the attack. Heitzman is averaging 2.78 kills while Cosgrove is coming off a career high 20 kills last weekend and is averaging 2.59 per set. Katelyn Cosgrove runs the offense and is averaging 8.68 assists per set.
 

About Webster University "GORLOKS"

Webster brings a 15-7 overall record into Thursday's match and hold an 11-3 mark in conference action. The Gorloks extended their winning streak to three matches after a 3-1 win over Westminster on Oct. 11th. Webster is hitting .171 as a team, fourth in the SLIAC, and average 12.04 kills per set. Their defense is also one of the strongest, averaging 19.55 digs per set.

Senior rightside hitter Jory Siebenmorgen leads a balanced Gorlok attack at 3.16 kills per set. The Gorloks have seven players that average at least one kill per set while running dual setters; Kelsey Hamann and Ashley Robinson. Hamann also leads the team with 28 service aces. Emily Knowles has a team high 73 blocks while Katie O'Toole is second in the conference at 5.65 digs per set.

Game Notes

  • Webster leads the all-time series against Spalding 12-4 with Spalding winning their meeting earlier this season 3-0 just two weeks ago.
  • Spalding senior Victoria Heitzman became just the second Golden Eagle in program history to reach the 1,000 kill mark in her career, accomplishing the feat on Monday night.
  • Webster senior libero Katie O'Toole became the program's all-time leader in digs last week, surpassing the previous mark of 1,690 held by Jordan Vehlewald.
  • Spalding is looking to secure the program's second trip to the SLIAC Tournament.
  • Webster also already grabbed a spot into the 2016 SLIAC Tournament. The Gorloks have made the tournament in all 22 years the tournament has been held.