Box Score
FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University volleyball team (8-11) won in dramatic fashion against the University of St. Thomas Houston Celts (11-4) at the Sid Richardson Center on Friday afternoon. The Lady Rams came back from down two sets to win in five sets (22-25, 15-25, 25-20, 25-12, and 15-11).
The first set was close as neither team found themselves with more than a three point lead, but the Lady Celts’ experience proved to be the difference, taking game one 25-22 due to some miscues on the Lady Ram side.
The Lady Rams came out flat in the second set and St. Thomas took full advantage. Wesleyan was not hitting the ball well in the second game, committing nine errors in the second set, and the Lady Celts breezed to a 25-15 win.
In the third set the Lady Rams seemed to get back on track led by Kristen Venhuizen and Haelee Horne who tallied four kills apiece. Wesleyan capitalized on some key St. Thomas attacking errors that led to a 25-20 win forcing a game four.
Wesleyan continued to shine in the fourth set, firing on all cylinders as the Lady Celts woes continued. The Lady Rams jumped out to a 10-3 lead that quickly turned into a 25-12 win going into the fifth set.
In the fifth set the Lady Rams had enough momentum to fuel the improbable comeback and finish off the Lady Celts. Wesleyan had a 7-4 lead with a kill from Horne before a kill by Lady Celt Evon Welch and some costly Ram errors tied the game at 9-9. Venhuizen took charge late in the game again with three kills to seal the match for Wesleyan with a game five 15-11 win.
Horne led the Lady Rams with 12 kills, and added 13 digs. Katherine Rosenbush followed with 11 kills, seven digs, and seven block assists. Venhuizen also had nine kills and 11 digs. Evoni Darling led all players with 31 assists and had 14 digs in the win. Stephanie Dominguez also tacked on 20 digs and 12 assists in the match. Marissa Rangel tallied 21 digs in the win.
“Anytime you win in five it’s a good match,” commented head coach Christy Clawson. “We had too many miscues early, but they came back and played really well late.”
The Lady Rams look to continue their winning ways with a double header tomorrow, September 25, taking on conference opponents Bacone College at 1:00 pm and Huston-Tillotson at 3:00 pm at the Sid Richardson Center.
