Sterling College edged Haskell Indian Nations University in a five-set thriller, 21-25, 25-15, 25-20, 20-25, 15-11, on Saturday, Oct. 4 in Lawrence, Kan. Sterling’s tenacious defense contributed to their victory with 95 digs, matching the Fighting Indians’ defensive effort. The teams were closely matched in blocks, but Sterling’s 10 total team blocks helped secure the win in the decisive fifth set.
Sterling began the first set with a strong start, quickly moving ahead 4-0 with contributions from Kaira Rodriguez and capitalizing on errors from Haskell. A service ace from Jaspen Ellenwood allowed the Fighting Indians to rally and level the score at 4-4, eventually overtaking Sterling to lead 7-6. Sterling responded with key kills from Maddie Lundeen and Aliya McClanahan, regaining a narrow 12-11 advantage.
Haskell then seized momentum by exploiting Sterling’s attack errors, building a 16-12 lead. Despite a timeout by Sterling, the Fighting Indians maintained their edge, extending the gap to 19-14. Sterling fought back late in the set with plays from Keala Wilson and McClanahan, closing the deficit to 23-19. However, Haskell’s consistent attack, including a decisive final kill from Tressa Jim, secured their 25-21 set victory.
Sterling opened the second set with a quick strike, as Chloe Schmidt secured a kill from Wilson, establishing their early presence. The teams exchanged points with Sterling maintaining a slight edge through strategic kills by Lundeen and McClanahan, supported by Wilson’s precise assists. Sterling capitalized on Haskell’s errors, including a critical attack error by Mya Dalgai, to build a lead.
Mid-set, Sterling gained momentum with a service ace from Kaleigh Guhr and consistent blocks from their front line, notably an effective block by McClanahan against Jim, extending the lead to 15-9. Haskell called a timeout, but Sterling continued to apply pressure, with Kodie Herd and Wilson contributing decisive kills.
Closing the set, Sterling maintained control, with Wilson delivering a service ace and Rodriguez adding a kill to secure the set. The set concluded with Sterling stretching their advantage to a 25-15 win, showcasing a strong team performance.
Sterling began the third set trailing but quickly gained momentum with a series of points initiated by Herd’s kill, assisted by Wilson. The team capitalized on Haskell errors and contributions from Lundeen and Guhr, who delivered a service ace, pushing Sterling into the lead. A notable run, including Rodriguez’s kill and another ace from Guhr, extended Sterling’s advantage to 8-4 before a timeout by the Fighting Indians.
Following the timeout, Sterling maintained pressure with consistent scoring, including a kill by Rodriguez assisted by Wilson. Despite some points gained by Haskell, Sterling responded with a block by McClanahan and service aces from Brooklyn Kuster, holding a 14-9 lead. As the set progressed, contributions from Taylor “Dru” Lindsey and Herd solidified Sterling’s control, leading to a 17-12 advantage.
With Haskell attempting a comeback, Sterling called a timeout at 19-18. Upon resumption, Sterling executed effectively with kills from Lundeen and Schmidt, ultimately closing the set with a decisive run. Sterling sealed a 25-20 victory in the third set, showcasing controlled play and strategic execution to conclude the match.
Sterling opened the fourth set with momentum, as Schmidt and Herd contributed early kills to establish a slight edge. Wilson consistently set up her teammates, assisting on multiple key plays that kept Sterling competitive. However, a series of attack errors allowed Haskell to gain a mid-set lead.
Sterling pushed back with effective kills from McClanahan and Lundeen, narrowing the deficit. Despite a service ace by Guhr, Sterling struggled to maintain consistency, and Haskell capitalized on errors to extend their lead. A late surge from Sterling, highlighted by kills from Schmidt and Rodriguez, was not enough to close the gap.
The set concluded with the Fighting Indians securing a 25-20 victory, as Sterling’s efforts fell short despite a spirited performance.
Sterling began the fifth set with a determined effort to shift momentum, responding to early errors with key plays. Abigail Howard and McClanahan facilitated a balanced attack, with McClanahan notably contributing multiple kills. After an initial tie at 5-5, Sterling capitalized on Haskell’s errors, with Lundeen and McClanahan making critical plays to regain the lead.
Sterling built on this momentum with McClanahan’s continued offensive pressure, assisted by Wilson and Grace Battershell. The team pulled ahead 11-9, prompting a timeout from the Fighting Indians. Sterling maintained control post-timeout, with McClanahan’s decisive blocks and kills extending the lead to 15-11 to close out the set and secure the match.
McClanahan led Sterling with a team-high 14 kills and six total blocks, contributing 20 points. Guhr delivered at the service line with four aces over the course of the match. Wilson recorded 16 digs and added 26 assists to her defensive efforts. Lindsey posted 20 digs, showcasing strong defensive skills on the court.
The Lady Warriors (11-7, 1-4) will be back in action as they take on York University (11-14, 1-3) on Wednesday, Oct. 8 in York, Neb.
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