LIBERTY, MO — A break that lasted longer than a year for the Quincy University women's volleyball ended tonight. The Hawks got back on the court to commence their 2021 spring campaign on Friday night (Jan. 29). QU started on the right foot as they traveled to William Jewell and defeated the Cardinals 16-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-21 in four sets of non-conference action.
The Hawks featured four returners and two newcomers to its starting lineup, and they took a moment to gel after a slow start. William Jewell took a 10-5 lead to open the match, and Quincy committed six errors during that Cardinal run. The Cardinals continued to keep pace in the first frame as they sped out to a 19-15 lead, and then scored six of the final seven points in the first frame to take a 1-0 lead. The Hawks committed nine attacking errors coupled with three service errors in the first set and posted a -.029 hitting percentage.
The slow start didn't last for long, as the Hawks opened the second frame with a 9-3 run and had eight kills in the first 11 points in the second set. The Hawks held a 16-9 lead, but a 5-0 William Jewell run made it just a two-point game at 16-14 in favor of QU. The Hawks held the two point advantage at 20-18, but then Quincy scored five consecutive points to take the second set at 25-18. Transfer
Mattie Norris had two kills in the final five-point run for the Hawks, and QU improved its hitting percentage to .296 in the second frame to even the match.
The momentum continued to stay with the Hawks as they took an 11-6 lead in the third set after a
Emma Holt service ace. The Hawks had five service aces including two from Holt. The Hawks then commanded a 16-8 advantage after three consecutive kills from
Sarah Brown, Norris, and
Emily Rehagen. Rehagen had 14 kills and swung .205 during the match for QU as she returns to the squad after being one of the top attacking freshmen in the GLVC last season. QU held an 18-10 lead, but the Cardinals got within two scores, 20-18, before the Hawks fended off William Jewell to close the third set, 25-21.
The Hawks led 2-1 which applied pressure on William Jewell who began the fourth set with a 5-2 run. Jewell held a 7-6 advantage before QU scored three consecutive points to lead 9-7. The Hawks scored six of the next eight points and controlled a 15-9 lead. Libero,
Sarah Blair, had a service ace to give QU a 19-12 lead, and Quincy scored six of the last six points in the fourth frame to take the match. Blair had three service aces during the match and also paced the Hawks with 17 digs.
The Hawks hit .172 as a team but took care of business on the road.
Stat Leaders
Mattie Norris – 16 Kills (49 TA) and 13 digs
Sarah Brown – 8 Kills (17 TA), .471 PCT
Emily Rehagen – 14 Kills (39 TA), .205 PCT, 14 digs
Makayla Knoblauch – 36 Assists
Sarah Blair – 3 aces and 17 digs.
Next Game
The Hawks will host Truman State tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 PM for their home opener in Pepsi Arena.
