The Lady Statesmen (3-1) were perfect on Friday, defeating Culver-Stockton (Mo.) 3-1 (25-16, 24-26, 28-26, 25-22) and Grace (Neb.) 3-0 (25-21, 25-14, 25-17).

Penn then had its first slipup of the year on Saturday, falling to Trinity Christian (Ill.) 3-1 (25-13, 11-25, 16-25, 20-25) before dropping Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) 3-2 (26-24, 21-25, 25-19, 29-31, 15-12).

Seniors Emily Stanton (Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) and Rachel Walker (Janesville, Kirkwood CC) started their final collegiate campaigns with solid performances in the opener against Culver-Stockton. Both tallied eight kills, while four others added six kills apiece.

Kristen Jensen (Jr., Lansing, Kan., Neosho CC) tallied 19 assists in her navy and gold debut, while 2009 starter Krista Pettit (Sr., Grundy Center, Grundy Center HS) added 16 in the two-setter rotation.

Caitlin Hadden (Sr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) managed 23 digs, while Stanton and Brittany Rohling (Jr., Thayer, Kan., Neosho CC) both posted six blocks (two solos, four assists). Stanton and Morgan Bailey (Sr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) finished with two aces apiece in the win.

Eleven players saw the court in the first match, but that was nothing compared to the 15 individuals (everyone that made the trip) that entered against Grace.

Stanton again paced the offense with seven kills, while Bailey added six. Jensen, with 13 assists, and Pettit, with ten assists, headed the setter position, while Hadden dug 19 balls in the sweep. Rohling headlined the defense with two solo blocks. Pettit posted four aces as well.

Stanton and Bailey became the first Lady Statesmen in 2010 to surpass the double-digit mark with 14 and 12 kills, respectively, against Trinity Christian.

Jensen (18 assists) and Pettit (15 assists) combined to ‘quarterback' the offense, while Hadden managed 21 digs and Jeanette Cunningham (Fr., Mt. Orab, Ohio, Western Brown HS) paced the net defenders with four blocks (two solos, two assists).

The finale witnessed Stanton once again at the top of the kills list with nine, but also matching her was two newcomers, Rohling and Paige Echimovich (Fr., O'Fallon, Mo., Fort Zumwalt West HS). Jensen recorded 20 assists with Pettit posting 13.

Hadden dug a weekend-best 27 attacks and Rohling and Echimovich each had five blocks (one solo, four assists). Stanton was successful at the service line as well with four aces.

"Overall it was a good weekend," Lady Statesmen Head Coach Jeremy Wise said. "We learned how to finish close games and matches, but still need to learn to put teams away much earlier. We played great at times and showed our lack of team chemistry at other times."

"I am pleased at the contributions from our bench and all our new faces in the lineup," Wise added. "Once we learn to mesh everyone's playing styles, we should send out a strong squad each match."

For their efforts, Bailey and Stanton were named to the all-tournament team.

Next: Penn travels to Lamoni Tuesday to face Graceland in non-conference play at 7:30 p.m.