After wrapping up a very busy day in Dawes Gymnasium, the Beavers ended their long day going 1-1. Blackburn hosted a quad-match which included St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rivals Iowa Wesleyan College, Eureka College, and Fontbonne University. The Beavers however, would only play Iowa Wesleyan and Eureka.
Match one
In the opening match of the day, Blackburn faced off against 2nd Year SLIAC competitor Iowa Wesleyan. It was a tight battle going back and forth for almost the entirety of the set. Sophomore Marlee Lindstrom rattled off three straight service points to extend Blackburn’s lead 20-16. Iowa Wesleyan could not rally a comeback and the Beavers held on to take the first set 25-20.
It was a different story in the second match as Iowa Wesleyan controlled the match from the start. The Tigers jumped to a 15-8 lead and never looked back cruising to a 25-15 victory to even the match at one apiece.
Still struggling, Blackburn was never able to regain the same consistency from the first set. Wesleyan once again established an early deficit. Blackburn fought to crawl back into the match but Iowa Wesleyan notched six straight service points to put the match out of reach 22-8, eventually holding on to take the second set.
Now down 2-1, Blackburn challenged the Tigers to keep the game close. But up 18-14, Wesleyan again scored seven straight service points to secure the win and the match 25-14.
Victoria Bowens led the Beavers with 14 kills while Allie Matt added 7 kills of her own.
Match Two
In the closing match of the afternoon, Blackburn faced Eureka College. The Beavers fought back from an early 9-3 deficit to rally back with seven straight service points to take the lead. Blackburn never gave up the lead and held on to take set one 25-21.
The second set was a little bit closer. With constant lead changes, the Beavers scored four straight to bust open a tie game 19-15. Blackburn again never looked back and rolled to take the win 25-20.
With the possibility of a sweep on the line, the Beavers struggled to establish any consistency. Eureka dominated the third set cruising to an easy 25-14 victory. Blackburn continued to struggle early on in the fourth set but went on an impressive run to regain the lead and control of the match. Down 9-5, the Beavers rallied with a staggering eight straight service points to take the lead 13-9. Blackburn collapsed down the stretch however, and surrendered a 22-17 lead. A late comeback was not enough as they lost the fourth set 25-23.
The decisive fifth set was neck and neck. Yet Blackburn took over with the score 10-9 and put the game and the match out of reach from the Red Devils with five straight service points to win 15-9.
With the victory, Blackburn now posts a record of 1-7. Victoria Bowens yet again led her team in kills with 19. Marlee Lindstrom added 26 digs. With this victory, Blackburn now posts a record of 1-7 with their next game at Principia College September 16th.