WINONA, Minn. – On the way to yet another weekend of top regional competition, the No. 17 Gustavus volleyball team made a stop in Wionona for its second MIAC match of the season, facing the Cardinals (8-7, 0-1 MIAC) and collecting their second conference victory. The Gusties (9-7, 2-0 MIAC) have swept Saint Mary's in the last three seasons, and Friday night was no different, rolling to set victories of 25-21, 25-20, and 25-22.
Set one was an up-and-down battle for both teams, each with their own surges of offense. The Gusties never trailed, collecting the first five points of the set on two kills from
Lauren Klaith (5th, Rockford) and a pair of SMU attack errors. Gustavus held a steady advantage, keeping Saint Mary's five points back until the middle of the set.
Saint Mary's clawed its way back into the match on an 11-6 run, powered by a trio of kills and five Gusite attack errors. The Cardinals evened the score on a service ace, 21-21, forcing a timeout for the No. 17 Gusties. And the breather was just what the team needed, as it responded with four consecutive points to claim set one, 25-21. Klaith tallied a kill and an ace, while
Leah Berg (Jr., Kenyon) and a Cardinal attack error accounted for the final points.
Saint Mary's continued to give the Gusties their best in the second set, tying the score three times before either team reached 10 points. Two SMU attack errors and kills from Klaith, Berg, and
Sophia Deyak (So., Iowa City, Iowa) helped the Gusties pull away and take the lead for good. A balanced Gustie attack was for too much for the Cardinals to handle, as four different players compiled more than one kill. The team helped SMU to an attacking percentage of 0.081 in the set for a 25-20 victory.
Saint Mary's mustered its best effort in the third set, leading for the first time in the match, including an early 5-0 advantage over the Gusties. SMU used a pair of aces, two kills and an attack error to take the lead, and kept the Gusties five away through the first few serves. Deyak put Gustavus back on track, bringing five kills to the table to give the Gusties the lead, 11-10.
The Cardinals tied the score once more before the end of the match, but the momentum swung in favor of the Gusties, who closed things out with kills from six different players for the 25-22 set three win.
Klaith and Deyak led the Gustie attack, totaling 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Klaith posted a .407 attacking percentage, her fourth match of the season at .400 or better. Four other Gusites added more than one kill, as
Sydney Timm (Jr., Lakeville), Berg,
Kasie Tweet (5th, Adrian), and
Kiera Petersen (So., Woodbury) accounted for the rest of the Gustie attacks. Tweet collected 33 assists on the night, adding a pair of block assists and nine digs. Tweet and Klaith delivered a pair of aces, while
Maren Sundberg (Jr., Eagan) and
Brynn Smith (Sr., Brooklyn Park) led the defense, with 14 and 10 digs to their name.
The Gusties continue their road trip Saturday, heading to Platteville, Wis. to face the Pioneers in a triangular with Aurora University. The Gusties' first match begins at 11 a.m., with the second to follow around 1:30 p.m.
