Matt RubinThe second-ranked Bears volleyball team stayed in top form this weekend, taking home four victories and the Bears Classic title to move to 18-1 on the season.
With strong defensive and balanced offensive play, the Bears defeated Principia College, Baldwin-Wallace College, Fontbonne University and Augustana College.
The Bears needed four games against the Panthers of Principia College, but the game two loss sparked Wash. U., which cruised in the final two to soundly defeat the visitors 30-19, 25-30, 30-18, 30-17.
Game two was tied at 21 before a missed serve and two hits that went long. Rallying behind their offense, the Bears tallied five service aces in game three and ended the match with four players having double-digit kills.
Sophomore Nicki Morrison led the way with 13 kills, while senior Whitney Smith added 12 and 5 blocks and juniors Emilie Walk and Haleigh Spencer collected 10 kills apiece.
The defense was also solid, as senior Amy Bommarito collected 16 digs along with four service aces. Spencer added 15 digs to her offensive output and sophomore Alli Alberts tallied 10 digs.
In the Baldwin-Wallace match, a tight game one forced a Bears’ rally that continued through to a victory 30-27, 30-17, 30-22.
Walk led the offense with 12 kills and 6 blocks while junior Ellen Bruegge, sophomore Audra Janak and Morrison each added 7. Spencer was solid as well with 6 kills and 14 digs. Bommarito added 18 digs and Alberts added 10.
The Bears showed the same dominance on Saturday as they defeated Fontbonne 30-18, 30-18, 30-16. Walk again led the way with 12 kills while Smith added nine and Morrison 8. Janak and freshman Vicki Blood split the assist opportunities this weekend as the Bears installed a new offensive set.
The final match of the weekend was against Augustana College. Led by all-tournament team members Smith, Spencer and Walk, the Bears defeated the Vikings 30-18, 30-25, 30-25. Morrison paced the offense with 10 kills, while Spencer added 8, Walk 7 and Smith 6. Janak tallied 23 assists while Blood added 16. Freshman Laura Brazeal led the defense with 10 digs while Spencer and Alberts added eight each.
The Bears will face Webster University on Tuesday before traveling to Chicago for the second round of UAA tournament play. They will take on No. 12 Emory University, Brandeis University, Carnegie Mellon University and University of Rochester.
Before the Baldwin-Wallace match-up, seniors Laurel Sagartz, Smith, and Bommarito were honored for their contributions to Wash. U. volleyball.