LEBANON, IL -- The Miners defeated the McKendree Bearcats 3-1 today, rallying after narrowly dropping the first set.
Elly Decker's (Manhattan, IL/Lincoln Way West) 17 kills and 4 aces led the Miners in both categories, while defensively the team set a season high with 77 digs.
The Miners hit in the negative during the opening set, proving to be their own worst enemy, but still only fell 25-22. The set was the most volatile of the match, featuring eight lead changes and 14 ties. Neither team led by more than two points until the Miners put together a 5-0 run late to take a 19-16 advantage. McKendree responded with a 5-1 run to move ahead 21-20, giving them the edge in the final points. S&T tied the Bearcats twice in the closing stretch, but the home team scored three straight to take the set.
Much like the first, the second set featured tight margins and several early ties as the Miners and Bearcats traded points. Trailing 17-15, S&T put together a 5-1 run that included two Addie Schoenberger (Menomonee Falls, WI/Hamilton Sussex) kills along with a kill and an ace by Decker. The Miners never relinquished the lead, closing on a 5-1 stretch capped by a Danielle Wilke (Palmer Lake, CO/Palmer Ridge) kill to take the set 25-21.
McKendree benefited from S&T attacking errors early in the third, taking a 7-5 lead. The Miners found their rhythm with a 5-0 run, with Decker serving during the stretch and delivering back-to-back aces. S&T never relinquished the lead, finishing on a dominant 10-2 run that featured seven kills to win the set 25-14.
The teams traded 4-0 runs to open the fourth and final set, with Avery Patton (Lathrop, MO/Truman) contributing two kills during S&T's stretch. McKendree answered with another four straight to go up 8-4, but the Miners caught them at 14-14 on another Patton kill. Three consecutive kills gave S&T their first lead of the set at 17-16. McKendree tied it again at 20-20, but three kills from Lexi Kosmopolis (O'Fallon, IL/Newsome) powered a 5-1 run that sealed the set, 25-21, and the match.
Decker's four service aces tied her season high, while Mya McClain (Fort Dodge, IA/St. Edmond) posted 18 digs that are a personal-best in her time with S&T. Kosmopolis made her presence felt in nearly every facet, recording 16 digs, 4 blocks, and 10 kills on a .258 hitting percentage, with the former two being personal-bests since she joined the Miners. Patton and Kate Zipprich (Hardin, IL/Calhoun) were also efficient in limited attempts, combining for 15 kills while hitting .353 and .263, respectively.
What's Next
The Miners will return home for Halloween Sticker Night vs Rockhurst on 10/31 along with a match against William Jewell on 11/1.
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