For Immediate Release
eureka, illinois
September 27, 2008
EC ends homestand with tripleheader in Red Devil Invite
Millikin boxscore
Robert Morris-Springfild boxscore
Lincoln Christian boxscore
The Eureka volleyball team hosted the Red Devil Invitational Saturday, completing a seven match stretch at home with a 3-4 record. The Red Devils lost non-conference matches to Millkin University 3-0 (25-17, 25-11, 25-15), Robert Morris College-Springfield 3-1 (25-19, 25-19, 22-25, 25-8) and Lincoln Christian College 3-0 (25-16, 27-25, 25-15).
Millikin (10-6), which completed a perfect 3-0 run at the event later in the day, opened in top form against Eureka (3-18). The Big Blue committed only six hitting errors against EC en route to a .359 percentage.
Eureka stayed tied early in set one before the visitors went on a 7-0 run to pull away 13-6. Millkin enjoyed fast starts in sets two and three with 15-2 and 11-2 leads respectively. Kylie Bahorik (Washington, Ill./Peoria Christian) hit just one error in 20 attempts to lead EC with eight kills and 10 assists. Laura Willman (Metamora, Ill./HS) had a match high 10 digs.
The Red Devils had a better go if it in their second match, but could not stop the Eagles of Robert Morris-Springfield (10-12) from picking of their first ever win over EC in four meetings.
Eureka was ahead or tied the entire way in the opening set until Robert Morris grabbed a slim 18-17 edge. Eureka later battled back to tie the score at 19 only to see the Eagles win the last six points for the win.
Not only did the second set provide a repeat score as the preceding frame, but it also played out much the same way. Once again, Eureka enjoyed a slight lead the whole way until the Eagles slipped in front for the first time at 19-18. It was downhill from there for Robert Morris, which closed the set on a 10-1 push.
The third set provided the match's third 18-18 tie, but this time Eureka got four kills from Brittany Feger (Heyworth, Ill./HS) and served three aces with no errors to pull out a 25-22 decision. The Red Devils pulled ahead 24-19, but Robert Morris came back to within 24-22 and EC needed a nice defensive play from Jacy Little (Washington, Ill./HS), who dug up a strong hit and set up Feger for the final point with her pass.
The Red Devils could not repeat that performance in the fourth set, however, as the Eagles won the first seven points to end the streak of closely played sets. Feger finished with 10 kills and a .292 percentage to pace EC. Willman recorded her seventh consecutive match with double figure digs by leading the squad with 14. Paige Fannon (East Peoria, Ill./HS) added seven kills, six digs and two blocks.
Lincoln Christian completed a 2-1 mark on the day with a three set victory of Eureka in the final match of the event. Bahorik was the only player in the game to post a double-double, going for 13 assists and 12 digs to lead EC in both categories. She also sent back three blocks. Feger led Eureka with six kills.
Lincoln Christian built a 14-9 cushion in the set one, but the Red Devils fought back to within one point on three different occasions, with the last time coming at 17-16. Eureka was never able to catch up though, as LCC ended the set with seven of the last eight points.
The second set was highlighted by four consecutive service aces by EC junior Heather Myers (Eureka, Ill./HS). Her powerful serves were in the middle of an 8-2 run by Eureka that lifted the Red Devils to a 13-7 advantage. The Angels then rallied back to tie the set at 15-15 with an 8-2 run of their own, but did not take the lead until much later. Eureka scored the next three points and stayed ahead or tied until Lincoln Christian survived two set points to knot the game at 24. After a Lincoln Christian serving error, Krystine Schautz, who led all players in the match with 16 kills, saved the day for LCC with kills on the last three points.
The Red Devils, who currently sit in third place in the league standings, jump back into conference play for their next match. Eureka will play at Principia College at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, Sept. 30.
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For More Information Contact:
Bryan Moore
Sports Information Director
Eureka College
300 E. College Avenue
Eureka, Illinois 61530
309-467-6456
bmoore@eureka.edu
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