Red Devils Test No. 14 Webster, Fall Short, 3-0

WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. – The Eureka volleyball team pushed No. 14 nationally-ranked Webster in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action on the road Thursday evening.

After a slow start, the Red Devils threatened to take the first and second sets against the Gorloks, but the home team held on and captured their fifth straight win, 25-21, 25-20, 25-21.

Despite the result, for much of the match, the Red Devils were on the same competitive plane as the home team. The maroon and gold played solid defense, extended long rallies, moved the ball to its outside hitters and found gaps on the Gorloks' side of the net.

Junior outside hitter Emma Harris (Streator, Ill./Streator) notched a team-high eight kills on 32 swings. Freshman outside hitter Regan Reed (Flanagan, Ill./Flanagan-Cornell) followed with six kills on 18 swings. The lefty hit a team-best .167 and led the team with 17 digs.

Freshman setter Faith Catour (Orion, Ill./Orion) distributed 16 assists. Megan Masching (Pontiac, Ill./Pontiac) added 13 digs in the back row, while Catour and libero Jordyn Fox (Pontiac, Ill./Pontiac) contributed 11 and 10, respectively.

The Red Devils helped decrease Webster's hitting percentage from .273 to .178 to .100.

Webster's Lauren Borik tallied a team-high 13 kills and 19 digs for the Gorloks while hitting .321. Setter Emma Larson registered 16 assists. Tori Cichelero and Kyra Gensel added 13 and 12 digs, respectively.

On Friday, Eureka (0-12, 0-12 SLIAC) will turn around and take on another nationally ranked squad against No. 19 Westminster (9-2, 9-2 SLIAC) on the road. First serve is at 6 p.m.