MARSHALL, Mo. – The William Woods University Volleyball hit the road for the first time this season as they traveled to Marshall, Missouri to participate in the Viking Invitational. The Owls dropped a heartbreaking in game one to Central Methodist, 3-2 (20-25, 23-25, 25-20, 25-22, 7-15) before collecting its first one of the season in a sweep, 3-0 (25-7, 25-19, 25-20), against Culver-Stockton College.
 
The Owls return to action Saturday, August 27th when they take on Oklahoma City University at 1 p.m. and Avila University at 5 p.m. on the second day of the Viking Invite.
 
Central Methodist vs. WWU
Game Flow
In the first match, Tory Wiley led the Owls in kills with 12, Victoria Day and Stephanie Davis followed closely behind with a tie of 10 kills. Brittney Engelbrecht continues to add to her assists list with 39. Jessica Jensen also contributed her part with 19 digs.
 
With the first set, the Owls and Eagles traded leads but Central Methodist slowly extended its lead to four, 17-13, after a Madison Bond kill. The Eagles grew the lead to six, 20-14, but the Owls could not come all the way back and dropped set one, 25-20.
 
William Woods looked to rebound in set two but the Owls found themselves down early, 4-3. WWU answered by scoring the next six points taking a 9-4 lead. The lead did not last long as Central Methodist responded and grabbed a 13-11 lead. The teams traded lead and the Owls looked to have the upper hand as they took a 22-20 lead after a Tory Wiley kill. However, the Owls could not put the set away and the Eagles came back taking the set, 25-23.
 
WWU and CMU traded lead back and forth to start the third set. With the score, 7-5, in favor of the Owls, WWU worked on extending the lead to 12-7. The Owls continue to take advantage of the Eagles errors and grow its lead as they led by nine, 19-10. Central Methodist trimmed the lead to three, 23-20, before back-to-back kills by Libby Dove and Victoria Day gave the set to the Owls.
 
Like set three, the fourth set was a back and forth affair and after a Libby Dove kill, the Owls led 11-10. It looked like the Owls were going to extend the lead but the Eagles answered back and led 17-16 after an Abby Ferguson attack error. The set remained close as it was tied at 22, before the Owls scored the next three points, 25-22, to force a fifth set.
 
The Owls looked like they were going to make the comeback complete as WWU and CMU battled to a 6-6 tie. However, the hitting percentage for the Owls did not go as well as the Owls were looking for in the set as they hit -.048 in the fifth set. After Central Methodist took the lead, 7-6, they did not let the Owls back into the game and the Owls dropped set five, 15-7.
 
By the Numbers
12 – Tory Wiley led the Owls against the Eagles with 12 kills
3 – Three Owls collected 10 or more kills in the match
39 – Brittney Engelbrecht dished out 39 assists in the match
19 – Jessica Jensen and Brittney Engelbrecht collected 19 digs each
.128 – The Owls hit .128 in the match
  
Culver-Stockton vs. WWU
Game Flow
The Owls wasted little time pulling away from Culver-Stockton in the first set. The Owls scored nine of the first ten points and did look back. During the run, the Owls had three different players collect a kill. Culver-Stockton answered back scoring the next two points but the Owls had an answer. They rallied off the next nine points in the set taking an 18-3 lead. The Owls only allowed the Wildcats to score four more points in the set and took set one, 25-7.
 
Set two looked as if it belonged to Culver-Stockton as they raced out to a 10-3 lead over the Owls. William Woods slowly battled back and tied the set at 13-13 after an attack error by Taylor Franks. Culver-Stockton followed with another attack error giving the Owls a lead. With the set tied at 16-16, the Owls four straight points taking a 20-16 lead. During the stretch, the Owls saw a service ace by Jenson. The Owls did not let the Wildcats in the set and the Owls took set two, 25-19.
 
The Owls and Wildcats came out and played set three as a see-saw battle. With the set tied at 7-7, WWU scored the next seven points taking a 14-7, lead and during the run the Owls had three different players record a kill. The Owls slowly extended the lead to 21-11 after another ace by Jensen. Culver-Stockton slowly mounted a comeback as they trimmed the Owls down to four, 24-20, but an attack error by Madeleine Halford gave WWU the set and match, 25-20.  
 
By the Numbers
.302 – The Owls hit .302 in the match against the Wildcats
11 – Victoria Day led the Owls with 11 kills
23 – Brittney Engelbrecht had 23 assists in the match
2 – Jessica Jensen and Kayton Coffee recorded two aces in the match
9 – Tory Wiley hit .563 in the match against the Wildcats