By Mitch Blankespoor
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – After falling to Hanover College (Ind.) in straight sets by scores of 25-21, 25-18, 25-23, the Kalamazoo College volleyball team bounced back to defeat host Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology by scores of 25-20, 25-21, 25-21 to finish 1-1 on the day.
In the match with Hanover, Kalamazoo totaled nine team blocks, but could not overcome eight reception errors and 39 Hanover kills.
In the final set, the Hornets trailed 24-20 and rallied off three straight points forcing a Hanover timeout. The next serve, however, sailed wide.
Junior middle hitter Kelsey Hill played the best individual match for the Hornets hitting a blistering .467 clip (eight kills on 15 attack attempts and one error). Hill also showed her prowess defensively totaling a team-high seven blocks assists. Junior setter Alex Gothard dished out 26 assists while freshman libero Logan Horejsi recorded 13 digs.
"We struggled coming off the bus," Kalamazoo Head Coach Jeanne Hess said. "Give credit to Hanover, who came off of a five-set loss, and earned the victory against us. We didn't play well."
In the match with Rose-Hulman, Kalamazoo hit a blistering .305 clip in the match. Sophomore outside hitter Nya Greenstone and senior right side Quinn McCormick finished the 17 and 11 kills respectively.
"Quinn [McCormick] and Nya [Greenstone] were huge for us," Hess said. "That is the first match is a long time we have hit over .300 as a team. The entire team bounced back from a loss and played well in all facets of the game."
Gothard dished out 34 assists in the three set match. Horejsi and freshman defensive specialist Paige Johnston recorded 16 and 11 digs respectively.
Kalamazoo returns to action Oct. 15, when it travels to Kresge Gymnasium for a match with the Britons of Albion College.