ARLINGTON, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University Volleyball team (13-6) swept through a pair of matches at Arlington Baptist College (8-9) on Tuesday. The Rams cruised by the Patriots 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-13) and then topped Austin College (9-4) 3-0 (30-28, 25-19, 25-23).
In the opening contest against Arlington Baptist, the Rams opened with an easy 25-13 win. In game two, the Patriots kept things close until
Kiersten Mebane threw in three consecutive aces to tie the game at 16-16. Mebane notched three more aces during her service rotation to push the score to 21-16, and the Rams went on to win 25-18. In the final game, the Rams got back into a rhythm and closed the match out 25-13.
Abby Zipoy led the Rams with 11 kills against no errors while hitting .524.
Shelby Stinnett was just as good with 10 kills against no errors and a hitting percentage of .556 while adding 10 digs.
Kristina Gafford set the offense to the tune of 31 assists.
The match with Austin College was tougher, but produced the same 3-0 result. The two evenly matched squads matched each other point for point in the opening set, but the Roos got to game point at 25-24. A terrific rally ended with a kill by Zipoy to save the first of two game points, and the Rams went on to take the opener 30-28.
Game two was close again, but a side-out and three straight points on Gafford's serves broke the game open at 16-12. Later back-to-back blocks by
Alanna Hayhurst and Zipoy put the game away at 22-15 as the Rams went on to a 25-19 win.
The final set was close once again. The Roos rattled off four-straight points to tie the score at 23-23, but the Rams finished the match with kills from Mebane and Stinnett.
Zipoy led the way once again with 11 kills, while Stinnett contributed 10 kills and nine digs. Hayhurst (10 kills, 12 digs) and Gafford (38 assists, 14 digs) both notched double-doubles.
Shaughnessy Hearn also tallied 29 digs in the contest.
Tuesday, marked the Rams final non-conference tune-up. The schedule now sends the team out for eight consecutive Sooner Athletic Conference games all on the road. The tough road trip begins on Friday, in Siloam Springs, AR, when the Rams take on John Brown University.
Ramblings
- The Rams are now 3-0 all-time vs. Arlington Baptist and 3-3 against Austin College. John Brown leads the all-time series 10-7.
- The Rams entered Tuesday's action ranking 8th in the NAIA in total service aces. With 17 aces in the two matches, they now have 146 aces on the year.
-
Shaughnessy Hearn entered the day ranking 14th nationally in total digs. Her 37 digs on Tuesday, give her 348 on the year.
