| Men's Volleyball |
|
|
|
|
First Team All-Conference
Academic All-Conference
Bees claim MAMVIC East Conference title(3/27/08) For the first time in school history, the St. Ambrose University Men’s Volleyball team won the MAMVIC East Conference Championship this week with a win over Missouri Baptist University. The win gave the Fighting Bees a 7-1 conference record and put them ahead of Cardinal Stritch (21-7, 6-2), who gave the Bees their only conference loss of the season. The Bees currently hold an overall record of 24-6, a mark that already assures the team of the most wins in program history. The Bees were led by Zak Krumlinde with 12 kills and a .429 hitting percentage. Sean Wagner and Mike Westendorf added 10 and 9 kills respectively. Bill Kramer dished out 41 assists on the night and also added 6 kills and 13 digs. Defensively, Kyle Bolinder had 16 digs and Krumlinde added 14 to pace the Bees. The conference title is just a taste of the direction that the St. Ambrose program is heading in after a string of disappointing years. Just two short years ago, the Bees finished with a record of 6-19. Last year the Bees finished 17-12 and were invited to make their first appearance in the NAIA National Tournament in Riverside, California. This year the Bees are ranked 4th in the latest NAIA National Pole and are looking for their second straight invitation to the National Tournament, hosted this year by Park University in Parkville, Missouri. The Fighting Bees will take the regular season conference title and turn it into the number one seed in the conference tournament to be hosted by Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 4-5, 2008. Bees to take on Harvard University(3/6/08) The Fighting Bees, winners of their last seven matches, will take on NCAA Division I Harvard University in what will be the first meeting between the two schools. The Bees, who have knocked off two of the top 10 teams in the NAIA thus far, are playing their best heading into this match-up with the Crimson. "Every match we play prepares us for the next.", Head Coach Bill Gleeson said. "I am not sure how strong Harvard is but I know that our last win against NAIA #3 Lindenwood will definitely give us an added boost going into this match." The Crimson, who knocked off NAIA Johnson & Wales in three sets their last time out, boast a 7-5 overall record. Currently, five different Crimson players rank in the nation's top 20 in seven different statistical categories. "All season we have been playing some really good volleyball that is why we are ranked NAIA #4, our highest ranking ever," Gleeson said. "Basically, we just have to forget that they are Harvard and play to win." The Bees, who arrived in Boston a few prior to the match, are excited to take a top Division I foe. "Being able to compete at a institution like Harvard, with all of its allure and prestige is going to be a great experience," Gleeson said. "Our first win against a NCAA D-I team would make the experience all the better." The NAIA's #4 ranked Fighting Bees (15-7) will take on the Harvard Crimson (7-5) at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 7th. Park University Invitational Proved to Be Successful FunBy Maria Naert (2/22/08) The invitational at Park University was an acclaimed highlight for the Fighting Bees' team season-record. Ambrose gained victory in each of their 4 matches on the weekend of February 22nd to 23rd. The team began with their first victory over Warner Southern 3-2 on Friday, the 22nd. Game scores were recorded at (30-22), (30-21), (24-30), (19-30), and (16-14). Zak Krumlinde and Joe Bara each striked down 10 kills, Mike Harrington supported 14 sets, and Ryan Schneider advanced with 2 service aces. Bill Kramer and Kyle Bolinder each covered 9 defensive digs while Scott Manthei added in a solo block. Later that day, Ambrose advanced onwards to take on their Quincy rival. The team was pumped as they claimed the match 3-0. Game scores played out to (30-24), (30-26), and (32-30). Joe Bara put down 13 kills, Mike Harrington set 18 in addition to 1 service ace, and Sean Wagner and Scott Manthei each scored a service ace. Kyle Bolinder covered the defensive floor with 12 digs and Kyle Warrenfeltz claimed two solo blocks. The following day, February 23rd, the Bees continued their favored winning-streak as they covered the Fontbonne match scoreboard 3-0. Game scores tallied out to (30-6), (30-14), and (30-12). Ambrose also met up with Lindenwood as they took their final and most exhorting Bee victory for the weekend 3-1. Game scores were recorded at (30-28), (30-20), (21-30), and (30-28). Junior setter Mike Harrington commented on Lindenwood as "the most commanding team we played. They are a smart team with experience, control, and power." Harrington does not recall Saint Ambrose ever claiming a match against Lindenwood before. "We look forward to playing the more powerhouse teams like these because we can reveal the potential of our abilities. We are now displaying very imposing statements and are starting to show the level of play at which we compete." The Bees look forward to competing against Lindenwood soon on their home Davenport turf. When asked about the strengths that led Ambrose to their weekend victory, Harrington explained that "once we find that strong desire to win, things happen on the court that can make our team feel unstoppable. We play with aggression and passion; it was a combination of leadership, character, and team unity that set us apart from other teams." Even during times of frustration, Harrington mentioned the team's strength of "remaining in control of the match. It is true that volleyball is 80% mental and 20% physical while the way we played proved it." In conclusion, Harrington added that the team's advantage to excelling their matches lies behind the simple concept of having fun and enjoying the time. Bees top Missouri Baptist, fall to Lewis on the roadBy Maria Naert (2/14/08) Saturday, February 9th, added a spark of competition to the Ambrose team as they met Missouri Baptist on our home Davenport floor. A striking 3-1 win was taken as the Bees pulled out of the second game with a 3-point loss and went on through the 3rd and 4th games with confidence and an unbreakable determination. The game scores were recorded at (30-25), (27-30), (30-24), and (30-26). Zak Krumlinde hit down 14 kills, Bill Kramer supported 26 sets, Joe Bara claimed 5 service aces, Kyle Bolinder covered 13 digs, and Scott Manthei took 2 solo blocks. "The Missouri Baptist game," stated Mike Westendorf, "was a conference home-game so it was a great chance for us to show how we've gained talent and experience against a conference opponent in front of our home crowd. Having the home court advantage is always nice in a big game like that." "Everyone knew," pointed out Zak Krumlinde, "that Missouri Baptist was going to be a huge game being that we were ranked #5 and they were #4. Ambrose had never beat them, and we were hoping that this would be the year. Playing the games were awesome, there was never a dull moment, every point was huge from point-one to the very last point of the game. We knew that they were not going to give up, so we had to play hard until the end." The following day, February 10th, the team found themselves in Romeoville putting a fight up against Lewis. Unfortunately, the Bees endured a stinging loss of 1-3 against the 6-4 NAIA team. The Bees took a hold of the first game, making it impossible for Lewis to catch up after their 15-8 lead. The 4th game began with SAU leading 8-3, but later losing it to Lewis. Game scores were posted at (30-26), (21-30), (24-30), and (25-30). Joe Bara tallied 14 kills and 2 solo blocks, Bill Kramer set at 41, Mike Westendorf obtained 2 service aces, and Kyle Bolinder covered the floor with 18 defensive digs. "Lewis has one of the best volleyball programs in the country," remarked Kyle Bolinder. "Even though we lost, we played them really tough and I think that we really showed ourselves how well we can play and, when we play at our best, we can play with anybody in the country." "We came out ready to play and took the first game," described Zak Krumlinde. "I don't think that they were ready for us. They thought that they could just roll over us like they did last year. After the first game, they picked it up a notch, and realized we were a team that can compete. Overall, I think that we played a good match, if we eliminate our own errors, that game could have gone either way." "Lewis," added Mike Westendorf, "was able to go on some small runs that ended up putting them ahead and taking some close games from us." "It feels great to be ranked #4 in the NAIA," exclaimed Bolinder. "This is the highest we have ever been ranked in school history and that is something that we are all proud of. We don't have to be content at #4. We know we have what it takes to move even higher." "We are undefeated in conference," said Westendorf, "which is huge and we are really pumped about that." "I think that it is awesome to be up there with the best of the best," said Krumlinde. "It feels good to know that all the hard work we put in over summer and preseason is starting to pay off and we are getting recognized. I think that this is a huge step for the program and shows where the program is headed. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of what is to come." Junior Varsity Finishes Weekend with Perfect RecordBy Jim Finn (2/12/08) This past weekend the JV men's volleyball team traveled to St. Louis to take on the field of the 2008 Biliken Bash hosted by the St. Louis University Men's volleyball team. The eight team tournament field proved to be no match for the Fighting Bees as they took home the championship. The Bees opened up pool play with a victory over cross-river rival Augustana in two games. Next, SAU found themselves facing the host institution, St. Louis University. In two tightly contested games, the Bees came out on top and put themselves in a good position to take first in the pool. In the final pool play game, St. Ambrose faced Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. Everybody on the roster got to see playing time and the Bees made quick work of the Cougars in two games. In the semifinals of the Gold bracket playoff, the Bees faced Truman State who they had lost to a week earlier. This time, they got they got their revenge and beat Truman in two games with scores of 25-20, 25-19. The championship match saw St. Ambrose matched up against Western Illinois, a team that had an identical 4-0 tournament match record and had not lost a single game in the tournament, just like the Fighting Bees. Western Illinois is a familiar foe of the Bees being just a hour drive south of Davenport. The championship match was all that it was cracked up to be and the Bees won a fierce battle in two games with scores of 25-20, 27-25. For the tournament, the Fighting Bees finished with a match record of 5-0 and a perfect record in games at 10-0. On Sunday, the Bees traveled to the University of Chicago to play in front of a large number of family and friends. The crowd proved to be a big help as St. Ambrose beat the host team in two short games with scores of 25-15, 25-17. Next, the Bees were matched up against a strong DePaul University team who was eager to blemish the perfect record the Fighting Bees. The Bees trailed late in both games be prevailed 25-23 in the first game and 25-21 in the second. For the weekend, the Bees finished with an impressive 7-0 match record and 14-0 record in games. The Fighting Bees will host the Augustana Vikings on February 14th at 7pm at Lee Lohman Arena. Bring your Valentine and come watch some exciting volleyball action! The Bees will play their next tournament at Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL. on Saturday February 16th.
By Maria Naert (2/7/08) On Saturday, February 2nd, the Men's Volleyball team headed off to Chicago for a match against Moody Bible Inst. The Ambrose team claimed a flat-out 3-0 victory over their competitors. The final game scores tallied up to (30-20), (30-16), and (30-22). Chris Ernest laid down 10 kills and 1 solo block, Zak Krumlinde placed 3 service aces, and Michael Chipman covered the floor with 9 defensive digs. Grant Lehman, Ryan Schneider, and Michael Westendorf each added in 1 solo block. Sunday, February 3rd, the Bees traveled to Quincy, IL to take on their Quincy rival. The match unwound to an unfortunate 2-3 loss. Game scores were posted as (30-24), (26-30), (24-30), (30-22), and (10-15). Zak Krumlinde attacked 20 kills and 1 service ace, Bill Kramer tallied 46 sets and 1 service ace, and Kyle Bolinder covered defense with 13 digs. Kyle Warrenfeltz obtained 1 service ace and Mike Westendorf put in 2 solo blocks. "I thought that we came out big against Moody Bible," said junior Outside Hitter Zak Krumlinde. "We went to their gym and took care of business fast, which is what we needed to do. As for the Quincy match, Quincy has become a rival to us over the past few years, even though they are a Division 1 school. We came out with a bunch of confidence because we had already beaten them twice this year, first at the preseason Loyola Tournament, and then at our home opener this year. They just came out bigger, wanting revenge, but We still gave them a great 5 game match." "Quincy did have a crowd-full of loud fans," remarked junior Defensive Specialist Kyle Bolinder. "But, I felt the noise helped us because we always play better in a loud environment. It was tough losing to them, especially since we beat them pretty soundly in our first game. But, we have a chance to face them again in a couple of weeks." When asked about this year's team, Zak and Kyle gave their own comments of what the team means to them and this year's season. "The best thing about this team is the players," said Krumlinde. "Volleyball is very much a team-oriented sport and I think that is one of our biggest advantages. Some teams have superstars who try to out-do the rest of the team. Here, everyone plays together and picks each other up when they need it. Also, the work ethic as a team is great. Everyone gives it everything they have all the time. We're always trying to get better and, in the long run, this is what will take teams to Nationals at the end of the year." "Our greatest advantage is our team chemistry," remarked Bolinder. "We're all really good friends and we even hang out all the time off the court. The majority of our team are Juniors, so that gives us a lot of experience. Our age will help us out, and the fact that we made it to Nationals last year gives us all a really good idea of how well we need to play in order to be the best."
By Eric Brundies (2/6/08) Outside hitter Zak Krumlinde was named the NAIA National Player of the Week for the week ending on Feb. 4. Krumlinde, a junior outside hitter from Channahon, IL (Minooka HS), totaled 35 kills in 10 games played, an average of 3.5 kills per game. He finished the week with an attack percentage of .310 over the course of the three matches. Krumlinde’s efforts helped St. Ambrose win two of its three matches over the past week. The Fighting Bees had back-to-back wins against Cardinal Stritch University and Moody Bible Institute before dropping a tight match against Quincy University on Sunday. SAU’s record stands at 2-0 in conference play, and 6-4 overall. St. Ambrose is currently ranked 5th in the most recent NAIA National Coach's Poll (2/4/08).
By Maria Naert (2/6/08) On January 30th, the Bees hosted their biggest rival from last-season, Cardinal Stritch, on their own Davenport Lee Lohman court. Ambrose took over their conference competitor with a 3-1 win, showing match scores of (30-25), (30-18), (31-33), and (30-26). Joe Bara put down 16 kills, Bill Kramer tallied up 39 sets, and Zak Krumlinde proved unbeatable with 6 service aces. Kyle Bolinder covered the floor with 16 digs, and Kyle Warrenfeltz powered behind 3 solo blocks. "Last year," said Coach Bill Gleeson, "we succeeded in beating them at their place late in the season to lock up our trip to the 2007 national tournament! So this game meant a lot to both teams." Gleeson went on to describe their play against Cardinal Stritch; "We started off very slow in the first game making a lot of unforced errors, but we regained our composure and finished strong. What helped us win was our strong and consistent defense. Our ball control was at its best so far this year, which helped my setter, Bill Kramer, move the ball around. I am very pleased with the way we played tonight; we controlled the game and never lost our rhythm. It was a big win for us but it’s a long season, we have to continue to strengthen our game each day." After the Bees overtook Cardinal Stritch, the NAIA National Rankings for top 10 teams began to fall into place with Saint Ambrose (4-3) at #5 and Cardinal Stritch (1-4) in place #8. Taking the lead are California Baptist University (2-3) at #1, Park University (6-0) at #2 and also in standing of taking 2 start-of-the-season losses from Ambrose, Lindenwood University (5-0) in place #3, and Missouri Baptist University (4-0) holding #4.
By Maria Naert (2/6/08) On January 25th, the Bees met their second season-game-rival, Park, at Lindenwood Tourney. Park returned with another thirsty victory over the Ambrose team. The single 2 games lost so far this season were recorded against Park. The 0-3 loss played out in match scores of (17-30), (18-30), and (26-30). Joe Bara racked up 6 kills, 1 service ace, and 2 solo blocks. Bill Kramer set up 11, Kyle Warrenfeltz succeeded in a service ace, and Kyle Bolinder dug up the defense with 10 digs. The following day at Lindenwood Tourney, the team met up with Johnson and Wales. Ambrose geared up to take back another win 3-1. Match scores were recorded at (25-30), (30-22), (30-23) and (30-24). Joe Bara put down 21 kills, Bill Kramer put up a high number of 52 sets as well as 1 solo block, Rob Brannigan added in 2 service aces, and Kyle Bolinder covered with 18 defensive digs. That same day, January 26th, Ambrose went on to compete against Missouri Valley in St. Charles, MO. The Bees pulled out another win from the close competition with a 3-0 score. Matches were tallied at (30-28), (30-22), and (33-31). Joe Bara struck down 20 kills along with 2 solo blocks, Bill Kramer supported 18 sets, Zak Krumlinde acheived 2 service aces, and Kyle Bolinder saved the plays with 10 digs. The Bees carried on further that day in St. Charles as they took on Lindenwood. The game proved to be close competition with the Bees just barely riding the tail of the 1st and 3rd matches. The Bees' 0-3 loss played out through the match scores of (28-30), (21-30), and (30-32). Mike Westendorf followed through with 8 kills and 1 solo block and Bill Kramer supported 14 sets and 8 digs. Michael Harrington, Zak Krumlinde, and Kyle Bolinder each covered defense with 8 digs while Chris Ernest along with Zak Krumlinde each added in another solo block. By Kyle Warrenfeltz and Kyle Bolinder (writing on the bus ride home) (1/26/08) The St. Ambrose Fighting Bees traveled to St. Charles, Missouri this past weekend to participate in the Lindenwood Invitational. The NAIA number six ranked Bees were eager to start their four match weekend due to fact that they were scheduled to face four Top Ten teams from the most recent NAIA Coaches Poll. The Bees started their weekend with a rematch against #2 Park University who they fell to a week earlier in a very dramatic five game home match after starting the 2008 season with a 3 game sweep over Division-II, Quincy University. After a long, uncomfortable trip, the Bees were unable to wake up and fell to the Park Pirates in three games. Luckily the Bees were able to wake up in time to sting their second opponent of the day, #8 Missouri Valley in 3 games. Going 1-1 on the day was not what the Bees were looking for, but they remained confident going into the second day of the tournament. The Bees started the second day of the invitational with a much anticipated match against #9 Johnson and Wales University. After falling in the first game, the Bees fought back and won the next three games convincingly to win the match. The Bees then had to play the #3 ranked hosts, Lindenwood University, right away. After an exciting first game in which the Bees lost 28-30, they struggled in the second game losing 21-30. They gave the Lions a run for their money, but in the end it turned out to not be enough as they lost 30-32 in game three. Although the Fighting Bees weren’t happy with an average weekend, going 2-2, they are excited to play an important conference match against #5 Cardinal Stritch University at home on Wednesday, January 30th at 7:00 p.m. in Lee Lohman Arena. The Bees beat Cardinal Stritch Wolves last season to earn their bid for the National Tournament, so they expect the Wolves to be out for revenge. Come cheer the Bees on in what is expected to be a very exciting and entertaining match.
Maria Naert and staff (1/22/08) The Men's Volleyball season kicked into gear on January 19th as St. Ambrose tested their 2008 team out on the game floor of Lee Lohman for the first time against rival Quincy. The game closed with a 3-0 win by the Bees with match scores of 30-23, 30-23, 30-22. Senior middle hitter Joe Bara hit down 13 kills along with 1 solo block, junior setter Bill Kramer totaled 20 sets and 1 service ace, and junior defensive specialist Kyle Bolinder covered with 11 defensive digs. Junior defensive specialist Grant Lehman and junior outside hitter Zak Krumlinde each added on 1 service ace, while sophomore rightside hitter Ryan Schneider and junior middle hitter Mike Westendorf put in 1 more solo block each. The day's competition continued as the Bees drove forward to take on Park with full spirit. Park's #2 national ranking in the NAIA preseason poll promised them as a difficult team to overthrow. Ambrose fought hard on their home court, but unfortunately came out with a close 2-3 loss. Match scores were 35-37, 32-34, 30-25,(30-28, and 10-15. Junior outside hitter Sean Wagner took over 17 kills, Bill Kramer set up 37 assists, and Zak Krumlinde worked both the defensive and offensive sides with his 19 digs and 2 service aces. The team played their first away game on January 21st in Lamoni, IA, against Graceland while gaining back their momentum with a 3-0 win. Match scores were 30-26, 30-27, and 30-22. Junior outside hitter Chris Ernest totaled with 8 kills and 1 solo block, Bill Kramer supported 19 sets, junior setter Michael Harrington covered the floor with 9 digs and 2 service aces, and Kyle Bolinder also tied with his teammate with his own 9 digs. Zak Krumlinde and junior rightside hitter Kyle Warrenfeltz were each credited with a solo block. The low point of the Graceland trip came on the road home. Drifting snow and high winds caused the Bees to stop one third of the way home and seek the shelter of a hotel in Cascade, IA. An early rise the next morning left the team only a couple of hours late for Tuesday classes. The last 150 miles of the trip home the players reported seeing between 50-100 cars and trucks that had slid off the road overnight. St. Ambrose assistant athletic director Bruce Billingsley said, "We give credit to coach Gleeson and Marty, our fearless bus driver, for having the common sense to pull over and spend the night." The Bees next action will be at the Lindenwood Tournament.
Staff Report (11/20/07) Juniors Bill Kramer and Sean Wagner participated in the opportunity of a lifetime this past summer. The two traveled overseas to Scotland to represent the USA in the Scottish Open Volleyball Tournament through the United States Athletes International Organization. While in Scotland, the two Bees got to experience a totally different culture, rich in history. Kramer explained that “here in the States a 100 year old building is considered ancient; while in Scotland they have castles and buildings dating back to the 1200’s.” They even got to taste the local favorite Scottish food, haggis, which both said was “NASTY!!”, but they were glad they tried it. Bill and Sean got to tour many cities in Scotland including, Glasgow, Perth, and Edinburgh. “The sightseeing was fun, but we were there to play,” said Wagner after his return. The two Bees were paired up with a variety of collegiate players from all over the country. With no time to practice, the USA squad was put right into action the first couple of days, playing some local Scottish club teams where they came out on top in two of their three matches. After using these games as warm-ups they went into the Scottish Open with some well needed confidence. The tournament consisted of numerous Scottish club teams with a varying range of skill; one team had several ex-Scottish national team players who, “were extremely talented,” said Kramer. The two-day tournament was a success; the USA squad came out on top beating the team full of ex-national players in the championship. Wagner said after the trip, “This was a once in a lifetime experience; having the chance to play in another country, with a bunch of guys whom I’ve never played with before and having the success we did, it was truly amazing!” Kramer added that “it was the best trip I have ever taken in my life; I hope I can do it again!”
Staff Report (11/06/07) The Fighting Bees were back in action Saturday November 3 competing in the 4th annual Iowa/Illinois Tournament at the University of Iowa. This tournament has become one of the premier preseason tournaments for the bees; finishing second in 2005 and third in 2006. With a championship in site the bees geared up early Saturday morning to head 45 minutes down I-80 to compete against some of the strongest club teams in the Midwest. The Bees got a slow start to the day hanging on to a 25-22, 25-22 win against a strong defensive Purdue squad. The next match the Bees found a rhythm that was too strong for the host team, Iowa, to stop. The Bees buzzed to a 25-18, 25-16 shellacking. The final match off pool play was against the number one ranked team in the pool; Missouri. Missouri had a lot of young talent, but struggled to score late in both games leading to a close 25-22, 26-24 win for the Bees. Pool play ended with the Bees being the number one seed going into the playoffs. The Bees quarterfinal match was a rematch with Purdue. A charged up Purdue team disrupted the Bees offense again with some strong defense but could not hold the Bees from taking the first game 25-21. The second game was much like the first, back and forth volleyball only to end with a Bee victory 25-23 and a trip to the semis. The semifinal match was against the number one ranked team coming into the tournament; University of Illinois. “Illinois has a lot of talent, many players on that team could have gone D-I but decided not to,” explained Bill Gleeson. Game one the Bees came out sluggish but picked it up at the end only to fall short 25-20. The second game was a lot closer. “We were neck and neck all the way to 20 but some crucial errors gave Illinois a lead we couldn’t over come”, said Bill Gleeson after the game. Illinois took the match and went on to beat Quincy (D-II) 25-20, 25-15 in the championship match. “We made too many errors at the wrong time against Illinois. I really think we beat ourselves. Illinois dug everything we threw at them and our defense was getting caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. We struggled defensively all day; luckily our offense was dominant enough to power past weaker teams,” said Bill Gleeson after the loss. The Bees last preseason competition will be in Chicago, IL at Loyola University on December 1. The Bees have two teams in this tournament and will most likely face some of the best competition the program has ever seen. Match times and match schedules will be coming soon! Come support the Bees! Staff Report (10/20/07) The men’s volleyball team kicked off it’s 2007-2008 campaign in Peoria, IL, on Saturday, Oct. 20, where they competed in the first of three preseason tournaments. Bradley University was the host of the 8 team tournament that consisted of Midwest collegiate club teams and a few adult teams. In pool play, the Bees went 2-1 beating Purdue and Illinois C but losing to a local Peoria adult team (Riverplex) in a close three game match. The Bees finished up pool play and moved into the playoffs as the third seed. Their first round test was against another local Peoria adult team (Kids Need Hugs), which the Bees stung in two. The semifinal match was against an undefeated Western Illinois squad. “This was the match that I was anticipating most because we matched up very well with WIU,” said Coach Bill Gleeson. The game was back and forth at the beginning, but the Bees put up a wall at the net that Western could not penetrate leading to an easy first game win 25-15. The second game was neck and neck all the way to the end but the Leathernecks could not stop the offensive barrage of the Bees, leading to a 25-21 victory and a spot in the championship. The championship match was against a young, energetic Illinois State team. The Bees buzzed their way through game one, but game two was a bit more of a challenge. The Redbirds of Illinois State took a commanding 5 point lead deep into game two. Coming off of a timeout, the Bees got a much needed side out and relied on their defense to make the necessary run to end the game in their favor to earn them the tournament championship. After the match, Coach Gleeson said, “We were looking very fatigued late into the second game, so I had to call a timeout to regain their energy and confidence. I asked them to get the side out and rely on our sizeable block to frustrate the ISU attack, and they did.” A huge solo block by Ryan Schneider helped give the team the much needed motivation to close the game out on a 10-2 run. Solid play out of the two lone seniors, Joe Bara and Keith Gloude helped lead the Bees to victory. Coach Gleeson added, “When we needed to get something accomplished Joe and Keith stepped up to the plate. Whether it was a side-out, block, kill, or whatever, they got it done. I was really proud of them!” The Bees next preseason competition will be at the University of Iowa Tournament on November 3. Come cheer on the Bees!!
| |
Earlier in the day the Bees advanced to the semifinals by
beating Lindenwood University in a thrilling 5 game match to close out pool play
with scores of 23-30, 30-25, 24-30, 35-33, and 19-17. Once again the Bees were
led by Westendorf and Krumlinde with 20 and 15 kills respectively. Kyle
Warrenfeltz also knocked down 12 kills along with Joe Bara who had 10. Bill
Kramer dished out 63 assists while picking up 10 digs. Westendorf also had
stellar defensive play at the net posting 12 total blocks while Krumlinde had 5
of his own. Defensively Warrenfeltz had 9 digs while Kyle Bolinder chipped in
12.