Volleyball | 9/5/2008 1:48:39 AM
Box Score ARCATA, Calif. - The Western Oregon University volleyball team (5-1) defeated the Academy of Art, 26-24, 21-25, 25-22 and 25-13, Friday, Sept. 5, to earn its fifth victory of the season.
Stephanie Beeler led the Wolves with her first double-double of the season as she posted 11 kills on 22 attempts and no errors for an amazing .500 kill percentage. Setter duties were once again split between Jorden Burrows and Amy Herron. Herron finished the match with 19 assists while Burrows added 12. Danielle English led the team in digs for the fifth consecutive game as she posted 22 on the afternoon. Stacey Bennett (13) and Kayla Mainer (10) each chipped in with double-digit kills.
"The Academy of Art is very good in the first year of the program," said Western Oregon head coach Brad Saindon. "They gave us some different looks which we had not seen before. They gave us all we could handle and very pleased with the win."
The two teams battled to extra points in the first set. After falling behind 1-0 to start the set, the Wolves went on a 6-2 run and took a 6-3 lead. WOU continued to hold the lead until it was 21-20 and the AAU took four straight points to jump ahead 24-21. The Western Oregon volleyball team then responded valiantly as it took the next five points consecutively for the opening set victory. The Wolves' final run was made on the back of its senior outside hitters, Bennett and Mainer, who each posted kills and Beeler who complete four straight serves for points.
The second set was a battle early as neither team went ahead by more than one point until a Mainer kill gave the Wolves a 10-8 lead. The two teams continued to exchange points but at the end the Urban Knights made a 10-3 run to win the set 25-21 and even the match at one set apiece.
In the third set, Western Oregon fell behind early but an 8-2 run gave them a lead at they never relinquished en route to a 25-22 set win which was finished off by a Herron service ace.
The Wolves fell behind 3-0 to open the fourth set, but then went on to outscore the Academy of Art 25-10 including a 10-1 run to close out the match.
"Our team came out a little rusty have the week off," said Saindon, "but towards the end we were back and playing the way I know we are capable of. We responded well down the stretch and were able to get a win against a good team."
Western Oregon will now face host Humboldt State in the nightcap beginning at 8:00 p.m., in Arcata, Calif.
The Wolves faced the Lumberjacks in the Otter Classic and dropped them in four sets, Aug. 30, at Seaside, Calif. "Humboldt State is a team we are very familiar with," said Saindon. "We faced them last week (at the Otter Classic) and we know we are going to have to play well to beat them at their own place."
