The Illinois Tech women’s volleyball team (0-5) played its first of three matches at the Johnson and Wales University Tournament out west on Friday evening. Opposing the Pioneers of Lewis & Clark College (3-2), the Scarlet Hawks played four close sets, falling 3-1.

Set Scores

• LC 3, Illinois Tech 1 (23-25, 25-22, 23-25, 21-25)

How it Happened

• The first set saw the Scarlet Hawks jump out to a 10-4 lead with a balanced offensive attack. However, the Pioneers were able to reel the Hawks back in and jump ahead 14-13. After the teams traded leads mid-set, a late surge gave Lewis & Clark the first victory.
• In set two, things were tight early until the Pioneers took a three-point lead at 14-11, prompting a Mark Johnston timeout. The Hawks responded after the breather with a 4-0 run, taking the lead on two straight kills from Sara Hassell. Lewis & Clark would take two brief one-point leads later on, but Illinois Tech took control late and won the set after an Ellie Leach kill and Pioneer attack error.
• Once again, the third set began close, with no team leading by more than one until kills from Hassell and Karen Marrufo-Zubaran put Tech up 11-8. A 6-0 run would give the Pioneers the lead until Illinois Tech stormed back to take a 23-21 lead on another Hassell kill. However, Lewis & Clark went on to score four straight to take the 2-1 advantage.
• The fourth set was close throughout before the Pioneers were able to take advantage of attack errors from the Scarlet Hawks, as four straight gave Lewis & Clark the win at the end.

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Hassell had her most dominant match thus far, tallying a season-high 17 kills and a .414% hit percentage.
• Marrufo-Zubaran had an impressive double-double of 10 kills and 22 digs.
• Courtney Darling led the team with 20 assists and had 12 digs to make it a double-double.
• Sinjin Acuna had 19 digs and four aces.

Up Next

• Illinois Tech plays twice more in Denver on Saturday, taking on Mills (4:00 p.m.) and host JWU (8:00 p.m.).