By Mitch Blankespoor
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – A rainstorm in Albion on Wednesday caused the volleyball match between Kalamazoo and Albion to be rescheduled for Thursday, Sept. 12 at Kalamazoo's Anderson Athletic Complex. For the first time in conference, the Hornets won in straight sets, defeating the Britons by scores of 25-23, 25-20, 30-28 to remain undefeated on the season.
Albion, which came into the contest at 2-5, 1-3 MIAA won five of the match's first six points. The Hornets battled back to regain the lead at 11-10 on a kill from junior middle hitter Olivia Cares. Albion tied the set at 19 apiece, but a service run from Kalamazoo outside hitter Paige Johnson sealed the first set for K.
In the set, senior middle hitter Quinn McCormick tallied four kills on seven attack attempts. Cares scored four of her five blocks on the match in set one.
"We inserted Olivia [Cares] into the rotation to help our block," said Kalamazoo Head Coach Jeanne Hess. "She was a big difference for us coming up with some timely blocks, especially in the first set."
Set two was deadlocked at 13 apiece until kills on consecutive points for Cares gave K a lead it would not relinquish. Two kills from freshman outside hitter Kaela Van Til gave the Hornets a 2-0 lead heading into the third set.
Despite coming out to a 10-5 lead in set three, Kalamazoo could not maintain the lead. Albion setter Erin Romph served five straight points spurring a Briton run that tied the set at 20 apiece.
Albion continued its run winning three of the next four points to come within two points of forcing a fourth set. The Hornets, down 24-22, fought off two set points using kills from Van Til and fellow outside hitter, sophomore Nya Greenstone, to tie set three at 24. After an Albion timeout, K would face two more set points at 25-24 and 26-25. Both were fought off by kills from Van Til.
Kalamazoo then gained the advantage with a kill from Cares to lead 27-26. Then it was Albion's turn to fight off set (and match) points. With the score tied at 28, the Hornet block forced at attack error from Briton outside hitter Jalyn Ingalls. A service ace from Hornet freshman libero Logan Horejsi on match point gave Kalamazoo the victory.
Van Til led K on offensive hitting a .250 clip with 12 kills on 36 attack attempts and three errors. She also tallied two service aces, eight digs, and two block assists.
"Kaela [Van Til] started out slow, but was the go-to option on offense for us tonight," Hess said. "She had a great all-around performance tonight."
Junior setter Alex Gothard dished out 28 assists and tallied 12 digs. Horejsi dug up 17 balls, assisted on two Hornet kills, and served two of K's eight team aces.
"Logan [Horejsi] is a ninja," said Hess. She was everywhere tonight and really frustrated Albion's offense."
Halle Thom led the Britons with 11 kills in defeat. Romph dished out 15 assists.
Kalamazoo, which improves to 7-0, 3-0 MIAA on the season, travels to the University of Mount Union tomorrow, Sept. 13, for the 2103 Purple Raider Classic.
"This weekend will give us a chance to play some tough out of conference opponents," said Hess.
The opponents Hess speaks off all hail from Ohio. The Hornets will face John Carroll on Friday at 5 p.m. followed by Case Western Reserve at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday and Wooster at 12:30 p.m. also on Saturday.