Volleyball Finishes Third at Graceland

September 12, 2009

The No. 19 Taylor volleyball team split a pair of matches Saturday to finish third at the Graceland University Pizza Shack Invitational in Lamoni, Iowa. Taylor fell 3-1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-13, 25-16) to 20th-ranked Lindenwood (Mo.) before winning a consolation match against Jamestown (N.D.) 3-1 (20-25, 25-21, 19-25, 25-23, 15-12).

Taylor vs. Lindenwood

In a battle of Top 25 teams, Taylor won the opening set before the Lions swept the next three straight to take the match by the final of 3-1.

A pair of juniors in Jackie Geile and Rachel Kizer elevated their game at the net. Geile totaled 16 kills, and Kizer had ten kills with no errors for a .500 hitting percentage. Kizer finished with a team-high four blocks.

Key to Lindenwood's success was limiting Taylor sophomore Kelsey Pritchard to a negative hitting percentage for the first time in her career. The outside hitter had five kills and six errors in 22 total attempts.

Taylor vs. Jamestown

It took every weapon in the Trojans' arsenal, but Taylor overcame Jamestown (N.D.) in five sets Saturday to claim third place in the tournament.

Pritchard matched a career high with 25 kills to lead a group of four Trojan hitters to finish with double digit kill totals. Kizer finished with 11 kills, while Geile and Colleen Nelis each had ten kills.

Setter Betsy Brown established a new career high in the match with 61 assists to go along with 15 digs, two kills, and two aces. Five players posted dig totals in double digits, led by 22 from Courtney Herschberger. Nelis and Kizer both finished with three blocks.

Following the tournament, Kelsey Pritchard and Courtney Herschberger were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Taylor (9-2) will return to conference action next week with a 7:00 match at University of Saint Francis (Ind.) on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

Lindenwood Box Score |  Jamestown Box Score