McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Lewis & Clark College volleyball opened the Oregon Trail Classic with a pair of matches Friday at Ted Wilson Gymnasium, falling to Augsburg University in the opener and Nebraska Wesleyan University in the second match of the day.
THE BASICS
MATCH ONE
Augsburg 3, Lewis & Clark 0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-15)
(Lewis & Clark 0-1)
(Augsburg 1-0)
MATCH TWO
Nebraska Wesleyan 3, Lewis & Clark 0 (25-22, 27-25, 25-19)
(Lewis & Clark 0-2)
(Neb. Wesleyan 1-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Senior
Kaitlyn Jensen led Lewis & Clark with 12 kills on the day, including eight against Augsburg and four against Nebraska Wesleyan. She added two service aces and seven digs.
Junior
Morgan Armitage and senior
Isabel Meleán-Williams each recorded eight kills across the two matches. Armitage hit .308 with five kills against Augsburg, while Meleán-Williams added five kills and a block in the opener.
Senior
HB Schuett posted the highest hitting percentage among Lewis & Clark attackers, finishing at .571 with four kills against Augsburg. They also recorded a team-high seven blocks across the two matches.
Senior setter
Ruby Kuerschner directed the offense with 26 assists, including 18 against Augsburg and eight against Nebraska Wesleyan. She added 14 digs on the day.
First-year libero
Maya Doerr recorded a team-high 16 digs, including 10 against Nebraska Wesleyan.
MATCH ONE
Augsburg took the opener 25-23, 25-17, 25-15. Lewis & Clark hit .407 in the first set and stayed even with the Auggies into the closing points.
The River Otters led 6-3 in the first set after a Jensen service ace. Augsburg answered to move in front, and the teams traded points down the stretch. Armitage tied the set at 23 with a kill, but Augsburg scored the final two points and closed the set on a Grace Hamilton service ace.
Taliah Triggs led Augsburg in the second set on her way to a match-high 15 kills and a .519 hitting percentage. The Auggies extended their lead to double digits before taking the set 25-17. Augsburg hit .389 in the second set and .500 in the third, closing out the match with a 25-15 victory. Jovial King finished with 28 assists for the Auggies.
MATCH TWO
Nebraska Wesleyan completed the sweep 25-22, 27-25, 25-19. The Prairie Wolves served 10 aces and held Lewis & Clark to a .069 hitting percentage across the three sets.
The first set stayed close through the middle before Nebraska Wesleyan moved ahead 19-13. Lewis & Clark answered with a late run and cut the deficit to 22-21 on a service ace by senior
Ainsley Mochrie, but the Prairie Wolves scored three of the final four points to take the set 25-22.
The second set was the closest of the day. Nebraska Wesleyan led 16-11 before Lewis & Clark rallied to tie the set at 22. The River Otters pulled even again at 24 and 25 on a Prairie Wolves attack error and a kill by first-year
Lexi Musselwhite. Nebraska Wesleyan scored the final two points to win 27-25.
Lewis & Clark opened the third set with a 3-0 lead, and the teams were tied at 13. Nebraska Wesleyan scored six of the next nine points to take a 19-16 lead before closing out the match 25-19. Musselwhite led Lewis & Clark with six kills in the match, while Schuett recorded five blocks.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Armitage made her NCAA debut against Augsburg.
- First-years Skylar Staab, Musselwhite and Doerr made their collegiate debuts on Friday, while Sophomore Coco Otto played her first match as a River Otter.
- Mochrie recorded three service aces against Nebraska Wesleyan.
- Otto finished with 12 digs between the two matches.
WHO'S NEXT
Lewis & Clark continues the Oregon Trail Classic on Saturday against Hamline University at 1 p.m. in Forest Grove.
