Volleyball Falls in Five, 3-2 against Golden Eagles

Oct. 10, 2009

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Saturday, October 10, 2009) – The Redhawks volleyball team dropped their fourth-straight decision on Saturday evening at Houck Field House. The Redhawks pushed the visiting Golden Eagles to the limit but came up short, 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 24-26, 25-23, 9-15) despite yet another milestone reached by senior Molly Davis (Burris/Muncie, Ind.).

Davis became the first player in Redhawks volleyball program history to record 2,000 career digs. She finished with a team-high 29 digs to give her 2,016. She reached the milestone during the third set as she came into the match just 13 digs shy of the mark.

In the opening set the Redhawks (6-12, 3-6 OVC) offense dominated with a .342 attack percentage as they committed just three attack errors. However the Golden Eagles (6-12, 5-4) bounced back in the second set thanks to a .308 attack percentage to tie the match at one set apiece.

In the crucial third set the Redhawks rallied to force extra play but came up short in a set that featured six ties and six lead changes.

The fourth frame was another close one as the two teams combined for 13 ties and five lead changes with the Redhawks holding the final advantage to force the fifth and deciding set.

In the fifth set the Redhawks offense faltered as they committed six attack errors and just five kills for a negative attack percentage. The Golden Eagles hit .273 in the frame.

Emily Hughes (St. Benedict/Memphis, Tenn.) led three Redhawks in double figures on offense. She had a match-best 22 kills and recorded a match-best .333 attack percentage as she committed just five attack errors on 51 swings. Hughes also finished with two solo blocks and three block assists.

Claire Keaton (Incarnate Word Academy/St. Louis, Mo.) had a season-high 11 kills as she has slowly worked herself into the offense. She committed just two attack errors and finished with a .237 attack percentage. Keaton also finished with a season-high 11 digs for her first double-double of the season.

Karleigh DeLong (Santiago/Corona, Calif.) came off the bench and provided a much needed spark in the final three sets as she finished with 11 kills as well and a .235 attack percentage. She also pitched in four block assists.

Kelly Benacka (Jacobs/Algonquin, Ill.) recorded her eighth double-double in nine matches with 54 assists and 15 digs. She also contributed three block assists.

Amanda Rickhoff (Southwestern Illinois College/Bartelso, Ill.) recorded a season-high 20 digs and added six kills offensively. Megan Webb (UNLV/Las Vegas, Nev.) also helped in the defensive effort with a career-best 11 digs. Sophomore Emily Maher (Marcus/Flower Mound, Texas.) had four block assists and recorded six kills on the frontline.

The Golden Eagles were led by last year’s OVC Player of the Year Leah Meffert who finished with 21 kills and 18 digs. Teresa Craig finished with 12 kills and 13 digs for a double-double followed by Amanda Lindgren who added 14 kills. Kelsey Gray recorded 11 kills and had a match-high six block assists.

Setter Melanie Culp had a match-high 59 assists. Last year’s OVC Defensive Player of the Year Katie Kenline had a match-high 33 digs.

The Redhawks dip out of OVC play this Tuesday as they continue their five-match homestand. They welcome SIU Edwardsville to Houck Field House at 7:00 p.m. in the team’s first KFVS12 WebCast match of the year. Log onto www.kfvs12.com for more info.