WPU Comes Back to Take Down Missouri Valley

Marshall, Mo.--William Penn women's volleyball team kept the faith and pulled off a remarkable 3-2 reverse sweep win over Missouri Valley in Heart of America Athletic Conference play Friday.

WPU (13-5, 3-0 Heart) defeated the Vikings (5-7, 1-3 Heart) by scores of 24-26, 21-25, 25-23, 33-31, 15-9.

The opening two rounds did not go the way of the Statesmen, but the visitors stayed alive with a tight third-set victory.

William Penn, which outhit MVC .121-.096, held a lead of 20-19 in the third set before going on a small 4-2 run making the score 24-21.  The Vikings would not go away, however, scoring two more of their own. With the set on the line, an attacking error by MVC would give the Statesmen a set win and the life they needed.

The fourth set was the tone-setter of the match, as both teams shared the first 48 points and extra play ensued.  WPU eventually garnered a 32-31 edge, and then the duo of Emilie Bojorquez-McFadden (Jr., Surprise, Ariz., Biology) and Khiani Jackson (Sr., St. Joseph, Mo., Psychology) put the finishing touches on the set with a block to send it to a fifth and decisive round.

The Statesmen carried their momentum into the fifth set and rolled to the triumph. WPU pulled out to a 9-3 advantage, and the Vikings had no answers the rest of the way.

Two Statesmen recorded double-doubles, as Boroquez-McFadden tallied 14 kills and 16 digs, while Maju Vieira (Jr., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Business Management) added 17 kills and 16 digs.

Joceline Martinez (Sr., Orange County, Calif., Psychology) contributed 10 kills, Jackson added eight, and Alix Robinson (Fr., Pontiac, Ill., Political Science and History) chipped in six.

Senior libero Kaya Caprini (Minneapolis, Minn., Psychology and Human Services) anchored the Statesmen defense, racking up 22 digs.

Courtney McWilliams (Fr., Rockton, Ill., Nursing) posted 29 assists, while Mia Brady (Sr., Pontiac, Ill., Exercise Science) added 23 helpers.

"What a win!!  That's such a resilient win for our team," Head Coach Lauren Eldridge said. "We stuck to the game plan and executed when it mattered the most. I'm so proud of each one of the girls and our team for battling, especially in that extra fourth set to push it to five. We are finally putting it all together and it's just the right time to be heating up."

Up Next: William Penn travels to Fayette, Mo. Saturday to face Central Methodist in Heart action at 12 p.m.