Sophomores power Pride to pair of wins in weekend's finale

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Finishing off a four-match, two-day tournament on their home court, the Clarke University women's volleyball team earned a pair of wins on Saturday afternoon with two sweeps over UHSP and Calumet College of St. Joseph in the Kehl Center.

Offensive effiiciency was the story of the day as the Pride hit for a .306 hitting percentage against UHSP and a .265 hitting percentage against Calumet to move to 3-1, their best record after four matches since the 2019 season. 

On the day, seniors Rachel Haubert, Rylie Bohanan, and Brittney Mundell finished with strong performances, as Haubert led the UHSP match with 13 kills then added eight more against the Crimson Wave, Bohanan would total 27 digs over two matches after a near record-breaking 37-dig performance in one matchon Friday, and Mundell finished the day with seven kills and four block assists.

The highest quantity impact from a specific class came from the sophomores, five in particular who provided depth in all areas that CU has been in search of over the last few seasons.

The five specifically were Ariana Rodriguez producing 24 total digs over six sets, Keely Colyer recording 15 kills on 30 swings with only one error for a .467 hitting percentage on the day, Kortney Harms totaling 25 assists and 16 digs, Mattie Dafforn adding seven kills and three block assists, and Maya Watters returning to the lineup after missing opening-day on Friday due to injury to had eight kills against UHSP then 10 kills against Calumet.

Freshmen Jenna Lewis and Kaelyn Minich had solid performances against the Eutectics with Lewis leading the Pride with 18 assists and Minich providing a solid two kills and two blocks before giving way to Reece Fleming and Kelsey NeCollins for the final match of the tournament where Fleming would lead that match against Calumet with 17 assists while NeCollins had three kills on five swings for a .600 hitting percentage.

Clarke women's volleyball will hit the road for Indiana next weekend in a similar tournament format at St. Mary of the Woods where they will face host St. Mary of the Woods College, Lourdes University, Great Lakes Christian College, and Goshen College on Aug. 30-31.