The Blackburn College Volleyball Team hosted two opponents from the state of Iowa on Friday at the Dawes Gymnasium in Carlinville. Blackburn opened their night with the Dutch of Central College in Iowa. The Dutch, a perenial power in the Iowa Athletic Conference won the match in three straight sets by the scores of 25-8, 25-17, 25-15. Blackburn team leader in kills, Emily Schroeder led Blackburn with four kills. Patrece McLain had seven assists for the Beavers. Marlee Lindstrom had 15 digs while Schroeder added ten. Central, which defeated Iowa Wesleyan 3-0 in the first match of the day/night event moves to 12-7 on the season.
In the final match of the evening, the Beavers hosted St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foe Iowa Wesleyan. Blackburn and Iowa Welseyan went back and forth in the opening set. The lead changed hands numerous times throughout the set until Iowa pulled away at the end 25-20. Iowa Wesleyan carried their momentum into the second set and pulled ahead 9-5, forcing Blackburn to rally. The Beavers would do just that as they eventually fired off six straight service points to take a 16-10 lead. However Iowa Wesleyan would not roll over and went on a run of their own to tie the set back up. Blackburn could not muster another run and dropped the second set 25-21.
Facing the sweep, Blackburn played their best in the third set. The lead went back and forth until the Beavers had an opportunity to put the set away. Blackburn was up 24-23, but Iowa Wesleyan forced a sideout point to tie things up. Blackburn fought back to regain the lead, but could not muster enough to take the set. Yet Marlee Lindstrom took over with the Beavers up 27-26 to get the final service point to win 28-26.
Still riding the momentum, Blackburn continued to keep Iowa Wesleyan in check in the fourth set. It would not last long however, as Iowa Wesleyan got hot to take the 15-10 lead. Blackburn looked as if they would claw back into the set, but Wesleyan had one more run left and used it to steal the match. Five straight service points later, Wesleyan took the match 25-17.
Alanni Young was leader in kills for Blackburn with 18. Emily Schroeder added 12 kills of her own. Marlee Lindstrom had a great night at libero as she amassed 32 digs.
This loss puts the Beavers at 0-17 with their next bit of action on Tuesday when they host Westminster College.