MOUNT PLEASANT – Iowa Wesleyan College dropped to 0-3 in Midwest Collegiate Conference play as Clarke University defeated the Tigers in three sets Wednesday night in a conference match at Ruble Arena.
The Crusaders defeated IWC 25-18, 25-21, 25-21, improving to 9-3 overall and 2-1 in MCC play while the Tigers dropped to 3-13 overall and lost their seventh straight match. Clarke led almost from start to finish in the match, leading the first set from the outset and trailing only briefly in the second set.
Wesleyan was more competitive in the third set, taking an early lead and coming back later to lead as late as 19-18 after a kill by Allegra Tennis (Sr.-Madison, Wis.) capped a 7-1 run for the Tigers. Clarke took a timeout, and the Tigers were unable to continue the momentum the rest of the way as the Crusaders scored seven of the final nine points of the match.
B.J. Wagy (Sr.-Cedar Rapids, Iowa) led the Tigers with seven kills. Kendra Zimmerman (Sr.-Green Bay, Wis.) had 20 assists, Katie Jammer (Sr.-Green Bay, Wis.) paced the team with 13 digs and Tennis had three solo blocks.
Ashley Shields and Shannon Gallagher both had 10 kills to lead the Crusaders. Hannah Grow had 22 assists and Heather Jansen led Clarke with 13 digs.
Iowa Wesleyan will travel to Whitewater, Wis., this weekend to play in the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Invitational on Friday and Saturday. The Tigers will open on Friday against UW-Whitewater, which is coached by former IWC player and coach Stacy (Ticknor) Boudreau.
Box score Clarke 3 IWC 0
