COLORADO, Colo. – The Gustavus volleyball team wrapped up opening weekend competition at the Pikes Peak Challenge, winning 3-0 over host Colorado before falling to Millikin, 3-1. After two top-15 wins on Friday, the Gusties wrapped up the weekend 3-1 overall against four of the top teams in the country.
"The team worked so hard during fall camp, it was a grind," said Head Coach
Rachelle Sherden following the weekend. "I'm happy for them to experience how their intentional training on and off the court this preseason led them to shine against outstanding competition on opening weekend. Everyone was locked in and supporting each other so well. It is a great place to build from, and I look forward to see how they keep growing during this early season segment as we continue to face some so the best competition in the nation."
Gustavus 3, Colorado 0
The Gusties came out with all the momentum in their match against host Colorado Saturday, picking up their first sweep of the season over the Tigers.
Set one was certainly for the Gusties, winning by an 11-point margin, holding the Tigers to a 0.174 attacking percentage while converting on 10 of their 18 offensive opportunities. The Gusties jumped out to a quick lead with
Payton Auseth on the serve, claiming a five point advantage to start set one.
Marlee Turn was difference, though, as the fifth-year totaled four kills on four attempts to lead the Gusties to a 25-14 win in the first set. The two teams went back-and-forth for the last six points of the set, but it wasn't nearly enough for CC to catch the Gusties, as an attack error for the Tigers ended set one.
Gustavus dominated the second set as well, getting five kills from
Lauren Klaith to deliver a 25-19 win in set two. Colorado tied the score with the Gusties three times in the first five points, but first-year
Macie Malchow stepped up to the serve and led the team back to a five point lead, 10-5. From there, the Gusties continued to roll past the tournament hosts to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Colorado had a comeback in mind in set three, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Gustie momentum, as a back-and-forth set ended with a service ace from
Maren Sundberg to seal the first sweep of the season. The two teams exchanged the lead eight times in the final set, with Colorado taking its first major lead of the match, 20-15 over the Gusties. Klaith continued to hit with efficiency for the Gusties, picking up five more kills in set three.
Marlee Turn and
Sydney Timm added a trio of kills to lead Gustavus to a 26-24 victory.
Lauren Klaith led the offense with 11 kills on 26 attempts, while
Marlee Turn collected eight.
Kasie Tweet earned a double-double with 23 assists and 14 digs.
Macie Malchow made a difference from the esrvce, collecting five service aces.
Gustavus 1, Millikin 3
The Gusties lost their first match of the season to Millikin Saturday night in Colorado to wrap up the weekend 3-1 overall. The Big Blue gave the No. 16 Gusties all they could muster, winning sets three and four to claim the match.
The teams were evenly matched through the first set, and the Gusties led a balanced offense, but the Big Blue took advantage of Gustie errors and six kills from Kailee Itzenhuiser to ick up a 25-21 set one victory.
Set two started in favor of the Gusties with
Kasie Tweet on the serve, who certainly set the tone for the match. The Gusties never relinquished the lead, and
Sydney Timm added five kills on seven attacks to lead the team to a 25-21 set two win. Millikin cut the Gustie lead to one a number of times, but kills from Tweet, Klaith, and Malchow evened the match score at 1-1.
Millikin sealed the deal with a 25-16 and 25-23 set three and four victories, holding the No. 16 Gusties at bay with some of their lowest attacking percentages of the weekend. Millikin spoiled the Gusties' potential perfect weekend, controlling the pace and allowing only one lead change in each of the final two sets.
Sydney Timm led the Gustie offense against Millikin, totaling 14 kills. Klaith and Deyak each finished with nine in the match.
Kasie Tweet picked up her second double-double of the day, directing the offense with 32 assists and contributing 14 digs on the back end.
Maren Sundberg added 12 digs, while
Marlee Turn paced the defense with 17. Tweet and
Lauren Klaith were both named to the All-Tournament Team following the conclusion of the weekend.
The Gusties will head to the Augsburg Invitational next weekend, facing Wartburg on Friday.
