For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

September 19, 2008

Red Devils end skid behind Frosh's 18 kills

Boxscore

Eureka College received a dominant performance from Brittany Feger (Heyworth, Ill./HS) to win its first volleyball match of the season Friday night, 3-1 (25-20, 25-20, 23-25, 25-21), over Westminster College. It was also the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener for the Red Devils, who improve to 1-14, 1-0 SLIAC.

Feger amassed 18 kills against only two errors for a .615 percentage on 26 attempts for the night. It ranks as the highest percentage in a match for a Red Devil with nine or more kills since EC Hall of Famer Carrie Eisenbarth hit .657 with 25 kills in a five-set win over Knox on November 1, 2002.

Eureka held a slim lead for most of set one, before pulling away from a 15-13 score with a 9-2 run. Westminster (1-10, 0-4 SLIAC) took the next five points to extend the set, but a service error ended the rally.

The Red Devils held the Blue Jays' leading hitter, Meredith Gibbons, without a kill and with four errors and Kylie Bahorik (Washington, Ill./Peoria Christian) passed out 11 assists to five different players as EC took set two by the same score. There were seven ties early before Eureka took the lead for good at 12-11. The Red Devils were clinging to a 17-15 advantage when they began a 5-0 spurt to push the lead up to seven. Kaurie Lindenmeyer (Arcola, Ill./HS), who led all players with five kills in the set, had two during the decisive run.

Westminster had its best offensive set in the third frame to extend the match led by the five kills and 13 digs of Sarah Kirchoff. The Blue Jays scored seven out of nine points to take an 18-12 lead, but the Red Devils made a game of it with a late comeback. Eureka first got within 21-20, then tied the score twice at 22 and 23. However, Westminster took advantage of EC overpasses on the next two points to force set four, 25-23.

After hitting between .146 and .161 in the first three sets, the EC offense heated up in set four to end the festivities. Eureka posted a .321 kill percentage in the final set led by six kills in seven attempts by Feger. The Red Devils never trailed in the set, gaining as large as a six point lead at 19-13. The Blue Jays got as close as 21-19 before their last ditch effort fizzled.

Feger's 18 kills are the most by a Red Devil in a match this season. She was joined in double figures by Lindenmeyer, who had 11. Lindenmeyer completed the double-double with 14 digs. Heather Myers (Eureka, Ill./HS) served a match-high five aces, while leading EC with 17 digs. Laura Willman (Metamora, Ill./HS) was next with 16 digs. Bahorik finished with a season-high 39 set assists to go with 10 digs.

Elizabeth Jansen led Westminster with 11 kills. Danielle Bazan passed a match-high 20 digs.

The same two squads will match up again tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 20 in the first wave to matches in a SLIAC quadrangular hosted by Eureka. The Red Devils will take on Westminster at 11:00 am, then play league rival Maryville University at 1:30 pm. Other matches scheduled are Greenville College vs. Maryville at 11:00 am and Greenville vs. Westminster at 1:30 pm. All matches will be played at the Reagan Center gym.

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For More Information Contact:

Brian Sullivan
Sports Information Director
Eureka College
300 E. College Avenue
Eureka, Illinois 61530
309-467-6456
bsullivan@eureka.edu