Red Devils Open 2018 With Losses to Alma, Olivet

BELOIT, Wis. – The Eureka College volleyball team ushered in the 2018 season Friday night, dropping a 25-20, 22-25, 25-16, 29-27 non-conference bout to Alma at Flood Arena as part of the Buc Blast Tournament in Beloit, Wis. The Red Devils also fell in the late match against Olivet, 25-13, 25-15, 25-19.

Lexi Dooley (Sutter, Ill./Warsaw H.S.) paced the Eureka offense in the opener against Alma with nine kills. Newcomer Runa Akagawa (Saitama, Japan/Ritsumeikan Keisho) added eight kills and Heather Robinson (Peoria, Ill./Limestone H.S.) pitched in with seven. Sara Worrell (Jacksonville, Ill./Routt Catholic H.S.) logged 20 of EC's 30 assists.

Caitlin Miller (Washington, Ill./Washington H.S.) continued her solid play at the tape, collecting four block solos and a pair of block assists. McKenna Cleer (Havana, Ill./Havana H.S.) led a group of three Red Devils with double-digit digs at 15 and also had a team-best three service aces.

Olivet sent the Red Devils to 0-2 in Friday's late 9 p.m. start, securing a 25-13, 25-15, 25-19 victory over EC. Robinson smashed seven kills, Cleer tallied 15 more digs and Worrell distributed 13 assists.

The Red Devils will face a short turnaround Saturday, taking the court at 1 p.m. against host Beloit. Eureka will close the event with a 3 p.m. contest against Rockford.