Box Score CANTON, Mo. -- The William Woods University volleyball team suffered a hard fought loss in its season opener, dropping a four-set match 3-1 (23-25, 21-25, 29-27, 25-15) at Culver-Stockton College.
The Owls ran into a very experience Wildcat team, which featured all six returning starters from a year ago. Culver-Stockton's experience played a big role in the first two sets, as the Wildcats were able to break a late tie in each set to snag a victory, helping them to the 3-1 match victory.
“I think we played pretty well against a very senior laden team,” said Head Coach Monica Herschelman. “Our team will continue to grow. We need to play games right now and get familiarly with one another. We are a team that starts two freshman and two sophomores, so the more we play the better we will get.”
In the first set with the game tied at 21-21 Culver-Stockton was able to pull away by scoring four of the final six points in the set, taking the 25-23 victory.
A service error by Abbie Foster tied the game at 23-23, giving the service to William Woods. The Owls could not capitalize as an attack error gave the point and the serve back to Culver-Stockton. Another WWU attack error gave C-SC the set point.
It was the same story in set two, as the squads were once again tied at 21. The Owls had a chance to tie the game at 23-23, but another late attack error gave Culver-Stockton a 24-22 lead. Foster served up the set point with an ace giving the Wildcats the 25-23 win.
William Woods held a 24-21 lead in the third set, but C-SC clawed its way back by scoring three straight points to tie the game.
The Owls would not let a third straight set slip away. They were able to match the Wildcats point-for-point over the next few rallies and scored the 29-27 victory to extend the game to a fourth set.
In the decisive set the two teams traded blows and were tied at 10-10. From that point, the Wildcats would go on a 15-5 run to close out the set 25-10, winning the match 3-1.
Sophomore Emily Becker picked up where she left off last season by collecting a double-double in the season opener. The Belleville, Ill., native posted a game-high 19 kills to go along with 12 digs, giving her the seventh double-double of her young career.
“Becker really led our team today. She played a complete game, she is our go-to-player and she knows that and really stepped to the challenge today,” said Herschelman.
Junior outside hitter Kristen Bauer also reached the double-digit plateau on Tuesday night by collecting 11 kills.
Despite the outcome, the Owls put on a wonderful defensive display by collect 75 digs. Junior Abbie O'Mara did an outstanding job in her first game as libero by totaling 31 digs on the night.
Three players made their Owl's debut on Tuesday, and each played an important role in the game. Freshman setter Sara Stevenson handed out 36 assists in her first collegiate game, while follow classmates, Stephanie Davis (7 kills) and Shelby Hinshaw (12 digs), played vital roles in their first game as collegiate players.
William Woods will return to action on Friday as they play in the Bellevue University Labor Day Classic in Bellevue, Nebraska. The Owls will have two games on Friday as they go against Concordia University (Neb.) at 3 p.m. followed by a match against Baker University at 7 p.m.
Check back with wwuowls.com for a full preview and recap of every game of the classic.
