MARION, Ind. — Indiana Wesleyan Women's Volleyball opened its home slate with a 3-2 win over No. 14 Taylor on Wednesday, winning 25-21, 17-25, 25-27, 26-24, 15-13 at Luckey Arena. The No. 6 Wildcats forced five sets, including extra points in both the third and fourth sets, to escape with the win, improving to 9-3 overall (2-0 CRL).
Blair Gardiner set a season high with 50 assists in the victory.
THE ESSENTIALS
- Location: Luckey Arena | Marion, Ind.
- Records: IWU - 9-3 (2-0 CRL) | Taylor - 10-4 (1-1 CRL)
- NAIA Rankings: IWU - #6 | Taylor - #14
SET ONE
- Taylor used two early 3-0 runs to take a 9-4 lead, but Indiana Wesleyan answered with a 3-0 run, featuring a kill from Breanna Tubergen and a service ace from Camaya Murry, to tie the set at 12-12.
- The Wildcats then reeled off a 5-0 run, featuring a service ace from Shae Williams and kills from Ella Mauck and Marin Sanchez, to take a 17-13 lead, then extended the lead to 21-16 with another 3-0 run.
- Taylor answered late with a 3-0 run to close the score within 3, but Indiana Wesleyan closed out the set, winning 25-21.
SET TWO
- Taylor opened with a 6-0 run, featuring two service aces from Mackenzie Gerig, to take a 6-2 lead, then extended the margin to 13-4 with a 3-0 and 4-0 run.
- The Trojans pulled further ahead with another 3-0 run, extending the lead to 20-9.
- Indiana Wesleyan answered with a 4-0 run, featuring a kill from Shae Williams and a service ace from Aubree Deshetsky, but Taylor closed out the set 25-17 to even the match.
SET THREE
- Taylor opened with a 5-0 run, featuring three kills from Daya Vestal, and later added a 3-0 run to take a 10-3 lead.
- Indiana Wesleyan answered with a 3-0 run, featuring back-to-back kills from Aubree Deshetsky and Payton Barendsen, to close the gap to 15-12, but Taylor pushed the lead back to 18-12 with another 3-0 run.
- The Wildcats answered with a 4-0 run to close within 18-16, and trailing 22-24 late, reeled off a 3-0 run, featuring kills from Payton Barendsen and Shae Williams, to take a 25-24 lead.
- Taylor answered with three straight points to close out the extra-point set, winning 27-25.
SET FOUR
- Indiana Wesleyan used a 3-0 run, featuring a service ace from Camaya Murry and a kill from Payton Barendsen, to take a 5-3 lead.
- Taylor answered with a 3-0 run, featuring back-to-back service aces from Emily Livengood, to take an 11-8 lead.
- The Wildcats answered with a 3-0 run, featuring a kill and a service ace from Shae Williams, to close within 16-15, but Taylor pushed the lead to 20-16 with another 3-0 run.
- Indiana Wesleyan answered with a 4-0 run, featuring back-to-back kills from Shae Williams, to tie the set at 21-21.
- Trailing 23-24 late, closed the set on a 3-0 run, featuring kills from Breanna Tubergen, Shae Williams and Payton Barendsen, to win 26-24 and even the match at two sets apiece.
SET FIVE
- Taylor used a 3-0 run to take a 6-2 lead, but Indiana Wesleyan answered with a 5-0 run, featuring two kills from Payton Barendsen, to take a 7-6 lead.
- Taylor answered with a 3-0 run to retake a 9-7 lead, but Indiana Wesleyan closed out the match, winning the fifth set 15-13 to take the match, 3-2.
KEY WILDCATS
LOOKING AHEAD
- Indiana Wesleyan hosts Marian University next Wednesday, September 9th, at 7:00 PM.
- Links for tickets, live stats, and video are available at IWUWildcats.com.
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