Red Devils Close SLIAC Schedule With Sweep at MacMurray
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Eureka College senior Anna Crank (Washburn, Ill./Midland H.S./Clarke) shared match-high honors with nine kills and logged 13 digs, one of four Red Devils to reach double figures, sending EC to a 25-19, 25-23, 25-16 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference sweep of MacMurray, Tuesday night in Jacksonville, Ill.
Eureka started the match slow and trailed by as many as six points in the first game. A Meagan Hanney (Sherman, Ill./Williamsville H.S.) kill ultimately ignited a 11-2 surge by the visitors and Lexi Dooley (Sutter, Ill./Warsaw H.S.) pushed the Red Devils to a 14-11 lead with another kill. The two squads traded the lead four more times Heather Robinson (Peoria, Ill./Limestone H.S.) broke a 17-17 tie and pushed EC ahead for good. Crank's kill gave Eureka a 25-19 lead.
In game two, the Red Devils led by as many as six points early, but MC forced another tightly contested set. The Highlanders pulled in front, 19-18, thanks to an EC attack error and led as late as 23-22 on Janelle Benson's kill. Eureka rallied to win the set, 25-23, after three consecutive MacMurray attack errors.
The Red Devils trailed only 1-0 in the final set. Benson's error triggered a 9-1 EC burst that ended with the visitors in front 19-9 on yet another MC miscue. Eureka's lead never dipped below eight points for the remainder of the game and Reagan Witherall's attack error ended the game and the match with a 25-16 win for the visitors.
Crank tallied nine kills and Beth Mickna (Deer Creek, Ill./Dee-Mack H.S.) provided eight with only one error on 14 swings. Sara Worrell (Jacksonville, Ill./Routt Catholic H.S.) distributed 16 assists in her hometown, McKenna Cleer (Havana, Ill./Havana H.S.) logged 15 digs and Caitlin Miller (Washington, Ill./Washington H.S.) had a hand in four EC blocks.
The decision ended Eureka's 18-match SLIAC schedule with a 7-11 record. The Red Devils will play their final match of the season on Thursday in a 6 p.m. CST start at St. Mary-of-the-Woods. The Pomeroys beat EC in three games at the Reagan Athletic Complex on Sept. 4.