Eureka Takes Down Beloit for First Win, 3-1
EUREKA – The Eureka volleyball team took down Beloit 3-1 to snag its first win of the 2023 season on Wednesday at Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena.
After falling just short in the first set of the night, the Red Devils claimed three straight sets to close it out, gaining a little bit more steam with each win. The final score was 21-25, 25-23, 25-14, 25-13.
Eureka's hitting percentage improved from .026 to .105 to .138 to .185, finishing at a season-best .106 on the night.
Senior outside hitter Payton Florine (Galesburg, Ill./Abingdon-Avon/Lincoln) led the way at the net, racking up a season-high 10 kills on 25 swings and only recording two hitting errors. She also contributed a team-high 19 digs, a pair of solo blocks and a pair of service aces.
Halle Gauna (Arcola, Ill./Arcola/Lincoln Trail College) followed with eight kills while hitting a match-best .467. and adding three digs, two solo blocks and an ace. Alexis Charlton (Eureka, Ill./Eureka) posted five kills for the second time this season, along with six digs, an ace and a solo block.
Senior setter Hope McGinnes (Mackinaw, Ill./Deer Creek-Mackinaw/Lincoln) distributed 17 assists, and Sara Hart (Secor, Ill./Eureka) notched nine. Libero Brooklyn Shell (Evansville, Ind./Mount Vernon) came up with 15 digs.
The Red Devils tallied a season-high nine service aces and a season-low four reception errors. They also tied their season with five total blocks.
Beloit had the upper hand during the first set, leading by as many as six. However, the Red Devils pushed within three before the set ended with a kill by Camille Ledoux, who finished with a match-high 11 kills for the Buccaneers.
The second set was a back-and-forth affair in which neither team could get very far away from the other.
Eureka pushed Beloit to take two timeouts, with the second coming after two hitting errors and a Florine kills made it 22-20.
A service error made it a one-point match, but a Gauna block and a Florine kill made it set point. Beloit claimed the next two points to put the pressure on Eureka to finish it off, and the Red Devils did just that, with Gauna putting down the kill that gave the maroon and gold their first set victory of the season.
They then made sure the next two weren't close, mounting double-digit leads.
Eureka will next open St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play at Lyon on Saturday. The Red Devils (1-2) will face Lyon (2-9) for the first time in program history at 10 a.m. and will face Principia (0-6) at 2 p.m.
