By Mitch Blankespoor
ADRIAN, Mich. – For the second time this week, the Kalamazoo College volleyball team played a five set match. For the second time, K prevailed. The Hornets left the Merillat Gymnasium with 19-25, 25-19, 25-10, 21-25, 25-19 victory. The win was Kalamazoo's second win in as many years at Adrian.
"It's tough to play in the Merillat Gynmasium," Kalamazoo Head Coach Jeanne Hess said. "I give all the credit to our team. They found a way to win."
The first set was close the entire way. Two Adrian attack errors tied the set at 18. After a timeout from Adrian Head Coach Michael Kwan, freshman Marisa Dion served three consecutive aces to propel the Bulldogs to a first set victory.
Kalamazoo earned a slight advantage to start set two, and extended its lead to 22-17 on a service run from junior setter Alex Gothard. A service ace from freshman defensive specialist Dana DeVito followed by an attack error from Adrian gave K the second set.
The Hornets dominated the third set. Kalamazoo hit a .304 clip, 10 kills on 23 attempts with only three errors, while forcing Adrian into 10 attack errors.
Kalamazoo gained a five-point advantage, 17-12, in the fourth set. Four straight points from Adrian sophomore outside hitter Jordan Brisson cut K's lead to one. A timeout from Hess stopped the Bulldog run, but Adrian would not be denied. An attack error from sophomore outside hitter Nya Greenstone followed by a kill from Brisson forced a fifth set.
"Our youth showed in set four," said Hess. "Despite that, we began the fifth set with a calm confidence."
Kalamazoo took the early lead winning the first two points of the set. Adrian, which was playing in its MIAA opener, evened the set at two apiece. A kill from freshman right side Paige Johnson followed by a service ace from Gothard gave the Hornets a 4-2 advantage. The Bulldogs would fight back to tie the set at five, but kills from Kalamazoo junior middle hitter Kelsey Hill and Johnson gave K a lead it would not relinquish. A service ace from Gothard gave Kalamazoo its first road victory of the season.
The most telling stat of the match was serving. Adrian served five aces and committed 11 service errors compared to 11 aces and nine errors for the Hornets.
"Our serves and serve receive were tremendous tonight," Hess said. "We didn't give up any big runs."
Brisson led all players with 15 kills on 42 attack attempts. Hill and Greenstone recorded 11 and 10 kills respectively for the Hornets.
"Kelsey [Hill] played a great all-around game tonight," said Hess. "She came up with some clutch kills."
Gothard dished out 41 assists and recorded nine digs. Greenstone and freshman outside hitter Kaela Van Til each dug up 18 balls. Junior defensive specialist Morgan Clothier had four digs, a service ace, and an assists late in the fifth set.
"Nya [Greenstone} and Kaela [Van Til] kept the ball up tonight," said Hess. "Morgan [Clothier] was effective in her role."
Kalamazoo remains undefeated on the season (6-0, 2-0 MIAA) and will return to action Wed., Sept. 11, when it travels to Kresge Gymnasium for a 7:00 p.m. match with Albion.