By Mitch Blankespoor
ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Kalamazoo College volleyball team lost its first match of the 2013 season at the Purple Raider Classic on Friday, Sept. 13. The Hornets fell to John Carroll University in four sets by scores of 25-15, 25-18, 21-25, 25-18.
The Blue Streaks of John Carroll earned a five-point lead, winning ten of the first 15 points in the first set. K could not cut the deficit.
In set two, Kalamazoo forced three straight attack errors from the Blue Streaks and added to its lead using kills from junior middle hitter Kelsey Hill and sophomore outside hitter Nya Greenstone. Despite leading 5-1, K could not hold its lead. The Blue Streaks stormed back winning six straight points. A Greenstone service ace would get the Hornets within a point at 15-14, but John Carroll responded once again winning six of the following seven points and cruised to a second set victory.
Kalamazoo won set three hitting a .216 clip in the set, but could not complete the comeback as it did against Saint Mary's on Sept. 3. John Carroll won set four and the match.
Due to a day of freshman orientation, the Kalamazoo volleyball team elected to travel with only its upperclassmen for the first day of the Purple Raider Classic.
Greenstone led the Hornets in defeat with 11 kills. Senior outside hitter Quinn McCormick and junior middle hitter Kelsey Hill each had seven kills. Junior Morgan Clothier led Kalamazoo with 18 digs, while sophomore setter Alex Gothard dished out 27 assists. As a team, K hit a .123 clip.
Kalamazoo will face Case Western Reserve (Ohio) at 10:30 a.m. and Wooster (Ohio) at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.