OSKALOOSA – William Penn University hit better than .260 in three of four sets and fought off an upset-minded Iowa Wesleyan College volleyball team in four sets in Midwest Collegiate Conference action Tuesday night.
The Lady Statesmen won the match 25-14, 25-20, 14-25, 25-9, winning the opening two games and then recovering after the Tigers took the win in the third set. The defending MCC champions stayed in the top half of the conference, improving to 3-2 (18-12 overall) while IWC remains winless in conference play at 0-5, 8-14 overall.
The Tigers played well in the middle two sets while struggling in the bookends. Penn led the opening set almost from start to finish, putting together scoring runs of seven and four points to take the early advantage in the match.
IWC never led in the second set but stayed within striking distance the whole way, getting within three points late before the Lady Statesmen closed out the game with the final of 17 kills. The Tigers then ripped momentum away temporarily in the third set as Megan McVey (Fr.-Fort Worth, Texas) served eight straight points to put IWC in control. Penn committed 12 hitting errors in the third set and the Tigers posted 10 kills to just two errors to stay in the match.
Penn regained control in the fourth set, scoring 13 of 15 points in the middle of the set and posting 14 kills to just three errors to finish out the match.
McVey led Iowa Wesleyan with 12 kills, reaching double figures in the category for the third time in five matches. The freshman also added 10 digs, while Corrie Wagner (Sr.-Iowa City, Iowa) led the team with 13 digs. Kendra Zimmerman (So.-Green Bay, Wis.) had 25 assists and 12 digs, and B.J. Wagy (So.-Cedar Rapids, Iowa) added four blocks.
IWC will be home at Ruble Arena Friday and Saturday for the IWC Invitational, hosting seven other teams for a two-day tourney in which all eight teams will play four matches. The Tigers begin play Friday at 2 p.m. against Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) College.
For more information regarding the IWC volleyball program or any of the Tiger athletic teams, contact sports information director Adam Glatczak (319-385-6306 phone; 319-385-6384 FAX; aglatczak@iwc.edu e-mail) or log on to IWC's athletics web site at www.iwc.edu/athletics.
Box score WPU 3 IWC 1
