MANHATTAN, Kan. — Sterling had a dominant performance at the Thunder Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 28-29, winning all three of their matches, including a big win against the host school Manhattan Christian. The Lady Warriors started the invitational with a sweep of Dallas Christian, finishing the Crusaders off with set scores of 25-10, 25-15 and 25-19. Sterling showed skill at the net with 33 kills while also adding eight services aces to the match.
Gracie Kirchhoff led the Sterling team with six kills on 14 attempts, achieving a .357 hitting percentage. Keala Wilson Brown contributed significantly with five kills and seven assists, while also recording nine digs. Kaleigh Bell made a strong impact from the service line with three aces and added six digs to her performance. Grace Battershell facilitated the offense with 17 assists, ensuring fluid play throughout the match.
The Lady Warriors followed this performance with another sweep this time against the Cottey College Comets with set scores of 25-15, 25-18 and 25-12. Sterling displayed effective offensive play, recording a .301 hitting percentage and tallying a total of 40 kills.
Aliya McClanahan excelled with 10 kills on 14 attempts, achieving a .643 hitting percentage, and contributed significantly to the defense with five total blocks. Wilson Brown added seven kills and provided a team-high 15 assists while also recording 10 digs. Chloe Schmidt posted 10 kills with a .444 hitting percentage and added a solo block to her performance. Battershell directed the offense with 17 assists and supported defensively with six digs.
Sterling finished off the impressive performance with a 3-1 win over the host school Manhattan Christian on Saturday, Aug. 29. The Lady Warriors dropped the first set 23-25 to the Thunder but rallied back to win the next three 25-13, 25-14, 25-16. Sterling’s defense recorded 64 digs and eight total blocks, contributing significantly to its victory.
Brooklyn Kuster delivered four aces over the course of the match, enhancing Sterling’s service game. Wilson Brown was effective both offensively and defensively, recording seven kills, 20 assists and 12 digs, while also adding six aces and participating in four blocks, helping the team with 15.0 points. McClanahan posted a total of 12 kills and was a key factor at the net with five total blocks, accumulating 15.5 points. Taylor “Dru” Lindsey anchored the defense with 19 digs, providing stability in the back row.
Be sure to check for news and updates on Sterling Warrior Athletics on Facebook (/SCWarriors), Twitter (@SterlingCSports), and Instagram (sterlingcsports), as well as the hashtag #SwordsUp. Watch the Warriors’ live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network.
