OWENSBORO, Kentucky – The Lake Erie volleyball played their last game of the season in the Bluegrass State against the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers. The Panthers would need extra points to take the first set, but Storm was able to respond convincingly to conclude their season.
Sophia McKenzie would post career highs for kills and digs. Also posting career highs are
Kennedy Stewart for kills and
Dylan Fox for digs.
Team Records
Lake Erie: 11-18 (4-12)
Kentucky Wesleyan: 1-23 (0-14)
Game Recap
Lake Erie - 3
Kentucky Wesleyan- 1
Set 1: After the teams began the set exchanging points, the Panthers would move ahead 17-13 after taking four of five points. The Storm would take the next three points, cutting the deficit to 17-16 after two kills from
Sophia McKenzie and an ace from
Kylie Anderson. Lake Erie would then move ahead 23-20 after a kill from
Kennedy Stewart and an ace from
Cecelia Mullen. Kentucky Wesleyan would force extra points and even take a 25-24 lead after taking five of the next six points. After a brief back and forth, the Panthers would secure the set 29-27.
Set 2: The Storm would wipe their minds from the first set, moving ahead early 7-2 with kills from McKenzie and
Ni'yah Fuggs, a block from Fuggs and Stewart, and an ace from Mullen. Lake Erie continued racing ahead, moving the score to 18-4 after 10-0 run with kills from McKenzie and
Sadie Nawrocki, a solo block from McKenzie, a block from McKenzie and Stewart, and ace from
Nicole Colombo. The Storm would take the set convincingly 25-9.
Set 3: The Storm continued their momentum from the second set to go ahead 4-1 with two kills from
Kennady Wiley, each assisted from
Dylan Fox. Lake Erie continued to move ahead to 10-5 after taking five of six points with kills from McKenzie, Stewart, and
Jasmine Heyward, each assisted from Anderson. The Storm would continue to grow their lead to 18-10 with kills from Wiley, Nawrocki, and McKenzie, a solo block from Nawrocki, a block from Nawrocki and Wiley, and an ace from Wiley. The Panthers would claw back in the set, cutting their deficit to 20-19. Lake Erie would take three of the next four points, growing their lead back to 23-20 after kills from Wiley and Heyward, and an ace from Colombo. Kentucky Wesleyan would take the next three points to tie the set at 23. Kills from McKenzie and Stewart would give the set to the Storm 25-23.
Set 4: The Storm would move ahead 10-5 after taking six of seven points with kills from Nawrocki and Stewart, and an ace from
Bella Kessler. Lake Erie would bring the score to 18-13 after a kill from Heyward, and a block from Stewart and Heyward. The Panthers would then cut the deficit to 20-19. The Storm would close out the set 25-20 after taking five of the last six points with kills from Stewart, McKenzie, and Wiley, each assisted from Anderson.
Key Team Stats:
Kills: Storm- 54, Panthers- 47
Attack Errors: Storm- 23, Panthers- 31
Hitting Percentage: Storm- .208, Panthers- .099
Aces: Storm- 8, Panthers- 5
Blocks: Storm- 8, Panthers- 3
Assists: Storm- 50, Panthers- 44
Digs: Storm- 76, Panthers- 66
Top Storm Performers:
Kills: Sophia McKenzie (20, *Career High*), Kennedy Stewart (10, *Career High*), Sadie Nawrocki (9)
Aces: Nicole Colombo (2), Cecelia Mullen (2), Bella Kessler (1)
Blocks: Kennedy Stewart (4), Jasmine Heyward (2), Kennady Wiley (2)
Assists: Dylan Fox (24), Kylie Anderson (18), Jasmine Heyward (3)
Digs: Sophia McKenzie (19, *Career High*), Cecelia Mullen (16), Dylan Fox (13, *Career High*)
The Matchup
Lake Erie has now won consecutive games against Kentucky Wesleyan for the first time since winning three straight in 2017 and 2018 and now move to 6-8 all-time.
Storm Individual Season Stats
Kills: Allison Kirch (209), Jasmine Heyward (173), Sadie Nawrocki (132)
Aces: Allison Kirch (17), Kennady Wiley (17), Kylie Anderson (15)
Blocks: Kennady Wiley (70.0), Kennedy Stewart (57.0), Rori Hanken (51.0)
Assists: Kylie Anderson (459), Jenna Sayles (392), Dylan Fox (97)
Digs: Cecelia Mullen (368), Allison Kirch (232), Kylie Anderson (163)
