Posted: Nov 03, 2021

2021 SLIAC Volleyball Tournament Preview

SLIAC Tournament At A Glance - 2021 SLIAC Volleyball Tournament Page
The 2021 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament begins on Thursday night in the new 6-team format where the top two seeds have earned first-round byes. The quarterfinals will pit #3 Spalding University against #6 Blackburn College and #4 Fontbonne University against #5 Webster University. Greenville is the top seed after completing an undefeated conference regular season and will face the lowest advancing seed while Westminster College is the second seed and will face the second-lowest remaining seed in the semifinals. The semifinals and championship will be hosted by Greenville University on Saturday with match times at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 6 p.m. Admission for all tournament games will be $5 for adults, $3 for 16 and under. Please check each host school's fan attendance policy for any restrictions.

#1 Greenville University PANTHERS
	Panthers by the Numbers Head Coach: Tom Ackerman Overall Record: 22-6 SLIAC Record: 12-0 SLIAC Championships: 6 Last Championship: 2020-21	A Look at the Panthers Greenville became the first SLIAC team to record an undefeated conference regular season since 2009 and has won 18 consecutive games against SLIAC opponents dating back to last season. The Panthers led the SLIAC in kills per set (12.46), hitting percentage (.201), and total blocks (184) this season. Leading the way is the duo of Anna Finch and Jasmin Smith. Finch has 246 kills and 86 blocks this year while Smith has totaled 215 kills with 289 digs and 26 aces. Emily Stahl is effective in the middle, hitting a team-high .363 on her 194 kills. Two other Panthers, Sacorra Patton and Payten Morris, have over 150 kills. Jordan Lempa and Kaitlyn Murray rotate as the setter while Chasity hill leads the team at 4.87 digs per set.

#2 Westminster College BLUE JAYS
	Blue Jays by the Numbers Head Coach: Dalton Tucker Overall Record: 13-15 SLIAC Record: 9-3 SLIAC Championships: 3 Last Championship: 2019	A Look at the Blue Jays Westminster enters the postseason hitting .144 as a team and average 10.60 kills per set. They led the conference with 204 aces behind Eryka Wanyonyi's 31 this season. Wanyonyi also leads the conference with 348 kills to go with her 297 digs. Haley Menke is the team's other option, with 297 kills and 37 blocks. Claire Whitehouse roams the middle and totaled 145 kills with 79 blocks while Payton Bledsoe gives the Blue Jays a third player among the top 13 in the conference in blocks while adding 111 kills. Gretchen Durbala is third in the conference in assists per set at 8.42 while Erica Shrader has a team-high 360 digs.

#3 Spalding University vs. #6 Blackburn College - Thursday, November 4 in Louisville, Ill.
	Golden Eagles by the Numbers Head Coach: Cheneta Robinson Overall Record: 10-12 SLIAC Record: 7-5 SLIAC Championships: 0 Last Championship: n/a	A Look at the Golden Eagles Spalding had its highest finish in the SLIAC standings, 3rd place, since 2016. The Golden Eagles are hitting .152 as a team and lead the conference at 17.60 digs per set. That defensive effort is paced by Sarah Richards with 243 while Jayda Branch and Rena Witham are both over 200 digs as well. The team features a balanced attack with Branch leading the team with 201 kills. Hannah Holland and Samantha Robinson are nearing the 200 kill mark as well. Mya Summers and Robinson can get points from the service line, tallying over 20 aces each. Summers is averaging 8.42 assists per set, second in the conference.
	Beavers by the Numbers Head Coach: Morgan Hauser Overall Record: 3-24 SLIAC Record: 2-10 SLIAC Championships: 0 Last Championship: n/a	A Look at the Beavers Blackburn is hitting .124 as a team and average 9.30 kills per set. Their net defense is one of the best in the conference, ranking 2nd with 161 total blocks and averaging 1.68 blocks per set. Lucy Magnussen leads the way with 78 while Jessica Muckensturm has 57 and Emily Eitzenhefer has 43. Magnussen also leads the team with 213 kills while Emilie King (144 kills) and Muckensturm (139 kills) offer other options. Sabrina Kelsey runs the offense, averaging 5.30 assists per set, while Autumn Wilson is second in the league with 4.71 digs per set.

#4 Fontbonne University vs. #5 Webster University - Thursday, November 4 in St. Louis, Mo.
	Griffins by the Numbers Head Coach: Ryan LeGrand Overall Record: 10-15 SLIAC Record: 6-6 SLIAC Championships: 5 Last Championship: 2005	A Look at the Griffins The Griffins come in having won three of their final four matches. They are hitting .133 as a team and average 10.81 kills per set this season. They rank second in aces, highlighted by freshman Kristen Kaempfe's 31 aces. Kaempfe also ranks second on the team with 217 kills. Jadyn Fitzgerald leads the team with 274 kills while Hannah Gallagher and Jordan Harpel have both reached triple-digit kills. Ella Werner-Click leads the SLIAC with 8.84 assists per set. Emma Pramik is one of the league's top liberos, totaling 399 digs this fall.
	Griffins by the Numbers Head Coach: Merry Graf Overall Record: 12-13 SLIAC Record: 6-6 SLIAC Championships: 12 Last Championship: 2014	A Look at the Griffins Webster picked up a win in its regular-season finale, snapping a two-match losing streak. The Gorloks average 11.27 kills per set this season, hitting .169 as a team. Reigning SLIAC Player of the Year Lauren Borik is the team's go-to option on the attack and leads the conference at 3.47 kills per set while hitting .303 this fall. She also has 284 digs and 49 blocks. Mary Nelson has totaled 193 kills while leading the team with 261 assists and rotates with Ali Spohr (139 kills and 241 assists) and Emma Leppien (193 assists) as the team's setter. Kaylee Portell gives them another option with her 105 kills while Julia Frey leads the team with 53 blocks. Libero Kyra Gensel has totaled 344 digs this season.