ILLINOIS – Spalding volleyball spent the weekend in Illinois, defeating the Eureka Red Devils Friday evening, and splitting a SLIAC trimatch Saturday against the Blackburn Beavers and Webster Gorloks. 

After the weekend slate, Spalding moved to 12-12 (9-5 SLIAC), Eureka fell to 3-17 (2-12 SLIAC), Blackburn moved to 7-19 (2-10 SLIAC), and Webster moved to 13-11 (11-3 SLIAC). 

FRIDAY: SU vs Eureka
To open their Illinois weekend getaway, Spalding jumped out to an early lead in the first set against Eureka. After an Abigail Ratts kill gave Spalding an 8-6 lead, Eureka went on a run of five points to take their first lead of the set. Eureka held onto their lead, but the Golden Eagles never let them get more than five points away. After falling behind 17-12, SU scored eight of the next ten points to take a slim 20-19 lead. The two sides traded the next six points, until Spalding took control and ended the set with three points in a row. Spalding won the first set, 25-23

The Golden Eagles again jumped out to a quick lead in the second set, this time going up 9-2. SU continued their dominance with a pair of service aces from Erica Jewell to extend the lead to 15-3. Four consecutive kills from Jayda Branch further extended their lead to 19-5. In an all-gas, no brakes set, Spalding won, 25-11.

The third set was very back and forth to start the set, setting the tone for the rest of it. This featured six lead changes and eight ties by the time the score was 10-10. More of the same followed with neither side able to secure an advantage of more than three points. Behind 22-20 late in the set, SU tried to make a push with a block from Ratts followed by a kill from Drea White to knot the score at 22-22. Eureka finished the set with three straight points however, taking set three 25-22. 

After trading the first four points of the fourth set, Jordyn Sarver took a narrow 3-2 lead with a kill. Spalding did not look back from there, applying tons of offensive pressure. A Halle Calbert kill put SU on top 18-9 in the later stages of the match. The Golden Eagles controlled the set with ease, ending the match on a kill from White to win set four 25-12. 

SATURDAY M1: SU vs Blackburn
Spalding opened the first match of their doubleheader in Carlinville with a 5-0 run thanks to a kill and trio of service aces from Branch. SU kept constant pressure on the Beavers, taking a 12-2 lead via a pair of Calbert service aces. Ratts also chipped in with two consecutive blocks, the second of which Ella Clark joined in on. Branch again had four consecutive kills in a row, followed by a block with teammate Kayla Dunican, putting the Golden Eagles up 19-5. Spalding closed the set with a kill from Dunican followed by a block from Calbert and Ratts to win set one 25-13.

SU got started quickly in set two, going up 11-4 after a pair kills and service aces from Calbert. Calbert continued her offensive efforts with two more kills to help build the Golden Eagle lead to 17-10. After a kill from the Beavers, Ratts and Clark combined for a kill and an assist each on consecutive points, bringing the Spalding lead to 24-16. The Beavers continued to fight, going on a five point streak, before Branch ended the set with a kill. Spalding took set two, 25-21.

The third set was one to forget for Spalding. After falling behind 12-0 early, the Golden Eagles finally got on the board. Despite their best efforts, SU was not able to build any sort of momentum throughout the set. Blackburn finished the third set, winning 25-9.

The fourth set was considerably more competitive from the Golden Eagles. After trading points back and forth, Calbert tied the game at 7-7 with a service ace. The Beavers went on a 7-1 run which Spalding answered by going on a four point run of their own. Down 18-13, Spalding went on a 5-0 run with kills from Branch, Calbert, and Sarver to tie the set at 18-18. After a short Beaver run, Spalding closed the set, and the match, with seven consecutive points. Spalding won the set, 25-21

SATURDAY M2: SU vs Webster
Spalding got out to a 4-1 lead to start their third match of the weekend and second of the day. After a quick four point run to extend the SU lead to 8-3, the two teams traded the next seven points back and forth. From there, Webster got hot, taking six of the next seven points as well as their first lead of the match, going up 13-12. Spalding did not relent however, taking four of the next six points, followed by a run of six in a row to rebuild their lead to 22-15. Brianna Terpening closed the set for the Golden Eagles with a service ace who took set one, 25-16.

Webster opened the second set quickly, taking a 4-0 lead. The Gorloks held this lead for a little while until Spalding tied the score at 11-11 via a kill from Branch. From there, the two opponents could not break free from one another. Eight ties and eight lead changes occurred from that point in the set until Spalding took a 24-23 lead late. The Gorloks did not let up though and took the next three points to take set two 26-24.

The third set started eerily similar to the first for the Golden Eagles, who went up 4-1 off a service ace from White. Spalding held onto this slim lead for most of the match, never letting the Gorloks within a point until late in the set. After taking a 21-18 lead on a kill from Sarver, Webster went on a 7-2 run to close the set, stealing set three 25-23

Spalding pinned their ears back and started the fourth set off quickly, taking a 7-3 lead with a block by Ratts. The Gorloks fought to keep it close, but a four point run from Spalding extended the Golden Eagle lead to 13-8. SU kept the pressure on, going on another four point run off a kill and service ace from Branch. After going down 18-10, Webster strung together an insane 13 points in a row. From there, the Gorloks won the final set of the match, 25-19. 

GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES

• Ella Clark had 43 assists against Eureka.
• Spalding led Eureka in every statistical category.
• Brianna Terpening led the Golden Eagles with 20 digs against Blackburn.
• Spalding's defense had nine blocks to Blackburn's five.
• Jayda Branch led Spalding against Webster with 16 kills.
• The Golden Eagles led Webster in assists (45-32) and digs (75-67).

NEXT FOR SPALDING
Spalding will travel to Berea College on Tuesday, October 24th. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m.