Friday, October 03, 2003

Valparaiso extended its home court winning streak to 14 straight on Friday evening as the Crusaders defeated UMKC in three games (30-25, 30-27, 30-26) at the Athletics-Recreation Center and in the process moved into sole possession of first place in the Mid-Continent Conference standings.

Western Illinois' loss earlier in the evening left the Crusaders as the only unbeaten team remaining in the Mid-Con.

Valpo opened game one hitting .316 with just two attack errors. Michelle Robinson (Bloomington, Ill./Normal H.S.) and Lauren Moulton (Elgin, Ill./Larkin H.S.) put down five kills each in the game and the Crusaders held UMKC to just .174 hitting.

Game two was a blockfest for the Crusaders as the Brown and Gold rejected nine Kangaroos shots. Valpo took a seven-point lead early in the game, only to see UMKC close the game to two before Valpo prevailed.

In game three both teams hit well, with Valpo hitting .341 and UMKC hitting .349.

For the match, Valpo hit .308 led by Moulton's .609 hitting percentage. She put down a match-high 15 kills and added seven blocks. Robinson added 14 kills, hitting .345, while Liz Mikos (Dundee, Ill./Jacobs H.S.) added seven kills hitting .357. Mikos also added seven blocks.

Heather Hynds (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein H.S.) registered a match-high eight blocks for the Brown and Gold, while Sara Silcox (Michigan City, Ind./Michigan City H.S.) tallied 16 digs. Cyndi Norman (Minooka, Ill./Minooka H.S.) dished out 37 assists.

Sara Foster led UMKC with 11 kills, hitting .400. Lindsey Zerr also added 11 kills, while Vanessa Portela added ten. Angela Melka tallied 14 digs, while Kristy Waltmeyer dished out 46 assists for the Kangaroos.

UMKC (3-16, 1-2 Mid-Con) hit .198 for the contest, tallying 49 digs and five blocks, while the Crusaders blocked 15 shots and tallied 49 digs.

Valparaiso (15-4, 3-0) will return to action on Saturday evening when the Crusaders host Western Illinois at 7 p.m. at the Athletics-Recreation Center.