Graceland Women's Volleyball Falls to William Penn in Four-Set Match
OSKALOOSA, Iowa – Graceland University's women's volleyball team battled hard in a four-set loss against William Penn University Tuesday night at the Penn Activity Center. Despite showcasing some of their best volleyball this season, the Yellowjackets were unable to pull off a victory, falling 16-25, 25-19, 21-25, and 22-25. The loss drops Graceland's overall record to 1-17 and 0-9 in Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) play.
Graceland came out strong in the second set after dropping the first, displaying resilience and determination with a solid offensive push led by outside hitter Brenna Crabtree, who notched 12 kills on 35 attempts with a hitting percentage of .171. Her performance was complemented by Grace Jensen, who contributed 10 kills, hitting .179 on 28 attempts. Both Crabtree and Jensen provided crucial points in Graceland's second-set win, where the Yellowjackets recorded 12 kills as a team, hitting .140.
Defensively, Graceland put up a strong effort at the net, with middle blocker Kaylee Baker playing a significant role. Baker registered two solo blocks and one block assist, combining for a total of 9.5 points across the match. In addition to her defensive work, Baker contributed 7 kills on 11 attempts, boasting an impressive .636 hitting percentage.
The Yellowjackets' service game also showed promise, with Shelby Jabour leading the charge from the service line, contributing three aces. Jabour's strong serve helped keep Graceland within striking distance, particularly in the second and third sets, where Graceland managed to out-serve their opponent with a total of nine aces on the night.
Head coach Stew McDole reflected on the match, acknowledging the team's perseverance and effort throughout the contest. "There is unusual parity in our conference this year; more so than any other I remember," McDole stated. "Tonight we played some of the best volleyball in our history and came away short of our hopes. They fight and fight hard. I'm so proud of them; our record just isn't truly indicative."
Graceland's offense showed some moments of brilliance, but errors at key moments proved costly, particularly in the first and fourth sets, where the team combined for 15 attack errors. William Penn capitalized on those errors, taking control of the match with strong offensive performances by outside hitter Katlyn Jeter, who led all players with 20 kills, hitting .395 on 43 attempts, and middle blocker Patricia De Souza, who added 8 kills and 9.5 total points.
Despite Graceland's tenacity in extending the match, the offense struggled to maintain consistency throughout. Kaci Young contributed six kills on 24 attempts but was hampered by five attack errors, finishing with a hitting percentage of .042. Setter Hailey Kauweloa distributed 17 assists and added two block assists, while defensive specialist Kariana Hernandez Cruz contributed 20 assists, playing a key role in facilitating the Yellowjackets' attack.
The fourth set proved to be the most competitive, as Graceland held a 21-20 lead late in the set after a service ace from Kyndal Garza and a kill by Grace Jensen. However, William Penn responded with a timely run, closing out the set 25-22 and securing the match.
Graceland's inability to close out crucial points was a key factor in the loss. Though the team's energy and effort were evident throughout the match, execution at critical moments remains a work in progress as the team continues to navigate through conference play.
The Yellowjackets will aim to rebound this Friday, October 11, when they return to the Morden Center to face Baker University. First serve is set for 7:00 PM. Graceland looks to continue building on the positive strides made during Tuesday's match as they seek their first conference win of the season.