VB2K21: The Recap 5

Oct. 1

Pitt 3, Duke 0

Pitt remained one of the three undefeated teams in the nation as it beat Duke 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-20). Along with Texas and Louisville, Pitt has yet to drop a match as it is now 14-0. Duke, which is 10-4, is no slouch, but just couldn't overcome the powerful Panthers. Kayla Lund and Chinaza Ndee had 14 and 10 kills respectively. Ndee led all players with a hitting percentage of .450. Lund hit .440 and also manage to scrape out seven digs. Jordan Lockwood contributed to the Pitt attack with eight kills on .385 hitting.

Duke's Moorea Wood guided her team with a .500 hitting percentage while knocking down seven kills. Ade Owokoniran led the Blue Devils with nine kills while hitting .391.

Ball State 3, Ohio 0

Ball State improved to 13-3 by pounding on the struggling Ohio Bobcats in a 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-15) in a home win. Lauren Gilliland lifted the Cardinals with 11 kills, five blocks and a hitting percentage of .647. The sophomore from Coldwater, Ohio, who was named to the 2020-21 Mid American Conference All-Freshman team, led Ball State as it outhit Ohio .388 to .162. Marie Plitt posted eight kills and six digs while hitting .533 for Ball State. Natalie Mitchem had eight kills, as she hit .467 for the winners. Ohio (1-13) was led by Caitlin O'Farrell's 10 kills.

The Ball State win was its third straight and second in as many days against Ohio. The previous win over the Bobcats was a 3-2 decision.

Oct. 2

Houston Baptist 3, Nicholls State 0

Houston Baptist seems to be unbeatable at home. The Huskies are 6-0 when hosting games and 12-5 overall, including 3-0 in Southland Conference action. They stopped Nicholls State 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-21) as Anna Gadway scored 15 kills, 13 digs and three blocks on .484 hitting. Houston Baptist's Ellie Wipf posted a hitting percentage of .556, with six kills on nine attempts, while getting five digs. Nicholls State (7-7) received a team leading 13 kills from Devon Bright.

Oct. 3

Hawaii 3, Cal State Fullerton 2

After toppling Cal State Fullerton, Hawaii improved to 4-0 in the Big West and 7-5 overall. Led by Brooke Van Sickie's 21 kills and 19 digs, Hawaii won 3-2 (25-13, 25-20, 25-27, 13-25, 15-10) in a seesaw battle. Kate Lang posted 51 assists and 17 digs for Hawaii. Her teammates Riley Wagoner and Tayli Ikenaga also had strong performances for the winners. Ikenaga led Hawaii with 24 digs. Wagoner had 17 digs along with three blocks and nine kills.

Cal State Fullerton was paced by Julia Crawford's 18 kills and Elizabeth Schuster's 44 assists and 27 digs. The loss dropped Cal State Fullerton to 4-7.

Oct. 4

Jackson State 3, Alabama State 1

Jackson State invaded Alabama State and snatched a victory over the hot home team, 3-1 (25-23, 24-26, 25-17, 25-15). Alabama State 4-13 entered the game on a three-match win streak and had won four of its last five matches. The Hornets even won a contest against SEC opponent Auburn.

Jackson State extinguished the Hornets' flame by winning it's fourth straight game. The Tigers started the season 0-10 but has gone undefeated in SWAC action, winning matches against Florida A&M, Bethune Cookman and Alabama A&M, before last night's win over Alabama State. Jackson State's Alexis Williams posted a double-double with 22 kills and 16 digs. She also led all players with four service aces. Trinity Bryant led the Tigers with 19 digs as setter Damassy Thompson posted 37 assists and 12 digs.

Alabama State's Kalysia Bates did well for her team with 10 kills while hitting .364. She also posted seven blocks an three digs. Emersen Belles led the Hornets and all players with 25 digs.