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For Immediate Release
Oct. 3, 2009
Red Devils Net Saturday Split
EUREKA, Ill. – Eureka College senior outside hitter Heather Myers (Eureka, Ill./Eureka H.S.) matched a career-high with 25 kills and senior setter Laura Willman (Metamora, Ill./Metamora H.S.) set a new career-high with 49 assists, but Eureka’s comeback bid fell just short in a 27-25, 27-25, 16-25, 20-25, 15-9 SLIAC loss to Fontbonne Saturday night at the Reagan Center. The Red Devils recovered to sweep MacMurray in the nightcap.
Myers got off to a great start for Eureka (7-13, 4-4 SLIAC), putting down five of her 25 kills in the opening set, but the visiting Griffins held on for a 27-25 win. Despite the solid effort from Myers, the Red Devils made seven attack errors during the opening frame. The visitors won by an identical score in the second set for a commanding lead in the match. Myers continued her solid play with nine kills in the set, while juniors Paige Fannon (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria H.S.) and Kaurie Lindenmeyer (Arcola, Ill./Arcola H.S.) had three kills each.
Eureka gained significant momentum in the third set, cruising to a 25-16 triumph to extend the match. Freshman Lauren Kao (Normal, Ill./Normal Community H.S.) came off the bench to play a solid game, highlighted by three kills during the third set. Eureka forced a fifth set with a 25-20 win in the fourth. Myers put down six more kills to lead EC. In the decisive set, the Red Devils couldn’t overcome a slow start before falling 15-9. Eureka was plagued by seven attack errors in the abbreviated set.
Following the tough loss, the Red Devils got right back on track with a 25-17, 25-16, 25-22 drubbing of MacMurray, Eureka’s second sweep of the Highlanders this season. Eureka recorded a season-high 15 combined service aces from eight different players in the win, led by six from Willman. Junior Marisa Durley (Roanoke, Ill./Roanoke-Benson H.S.) had seven kills to lead Eureka in that category for the first time this season, including four in the second set. All 12 healthy players contributed in the win and eight different Red Devils recorded a kill.
In addition to her career-best 49 assists against Fontbonne, Willman recorded two service aces against the Griffins and added six more against MacMurray to run her career total to 119, moving her into 10th place all-time on the Eureka career list.
The Red Devils played most of the night without sophomore outside hitter Brittany Feger (Heyworth, Ill./Heyworth H.S.). In the first set of the opener against Fontbonne, Feger sustained a significant knee injury during an attack attempt near the net. Feger was carried off the court and did not return.
Eureka will host its annual “Dig Pink” event this Tuesday at the Reagan Center to support breast cancer research. The Red Devils will play twice, first hosting Lincoln Christian at 3:30 p.m. before playing the Milwaukee School of Engineering at 7:30 p.m.
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For More Information Contact:
Bryan Moore
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