The Spalding University women’s volleyball team has high expectations this season after going 26-10 last season and coming up one game short in the USCAA National Championship game. 

Rochester College, an opponent that Spalding has seen the past few seasons in the National tournament gave the Golden Eagles some early season troubles.  Spalding cruised through the first 2 games both ending 25-21.  Rochester came back firing in the next game winning 25-21 giving them momentum going into game 4.  The 4^th game went back in forth until Rochester came out on top 27-25.  Game 5 was a lopsided affair with Rochester winning the game and match 15-9.  It was a disappointing loss for the golden eagles,  dropping 3 straight games after winning the first 2. Alex Marquardt (Sr. Atherton, HS) had a tremendous match defensively with 10 solo blocks.  Jessica Luker (Sr. Presentation HS) had 26 digs and Elisa Burkman (Fr. Sacred Heart HS) had 10 kills and 4 serving aces.

The second match of the day against Lindenwood University Belleville went a lot smoother for the Golden Eagles.  Spalding dominated the Lynx in 3 straight games, 25-9, 25-22, 25-21.  Ashley Arnold (Fr. Boone County HS) had 9 digs in the win.  Elisa Burkman had a 57% kill percentage with 8 kills out of 14 attacks and Alex Marquardt had 4 more solo blocks giving her 14 solo blocks on the day,

Day 2 of the Early Bird Invitational went very well for Spalding beating Robert Morris Springfield in 4 games 23-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-10 and Robert Morris Peoria 25-16, 25-7, 25-13.  Jessica Luker had 44 digs in the 2 matches.  Alex Marquardt once again led the way defensively with 6 solo blocks.  Elisa Burkman added 21 kills with an 80 % kill percentage in the win against Springfield. 

The Golden Eagles ended the weekend 3-1.  Spalding is back in action next weekend in the Hanover College Tournament September 9-10.

Tags: Women's Volleyball //