Yellowjackets Outlast Clarke in Five-Set Road Win

DUBUQUE, Iowa — The Graceland University women's volleyball team battled through a five-set thriller to defeat Clarke University on the road Saturday afternoon, earning a 3-2 victory (14-25, 25-19, 25-22, 17-25, 17-15) at the Dubuque-based program's home court. With the win, Graceland improves to 7-20 overall and 3-13 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC), while Clarke remains winless in conference play at 2-26 overall and 0-17 in the HAAC.

Sophomore Kaci Young (Centennial, Colo.) led all Yellowjackets with 13 kills and added 14.0 total points, providing key swings in tight moments. Senior opposite hitter Allison Sander (Papillion, Neb.) set the offensive tempo, dishing out a team-high 20 assists and contributing 4 service aces and 2 kills of her own.

Graceland relied heavily on middle blocking and serving pressure throughout the match. The team recorded 12 service aces, led by Sander, freshman Shaeniah La Fountain (Waipahu, Hawaii), and freshman Amelie Heinzmann (Stuttgart, Germany). Defensively, the Yellowjackets outblocked the Pride 28-8, with senior Kaylee Baker (New Hampton, Iowa) tallying 7 total blocks.

"Those who know, know that as our serving goes, so goes our game," said head coach Stew McDole. "Today it was 12 aces and accompanied systems disruption spread unevenly across five sets. But just enough thankfully to earn the required 3 and a W. We accept."

Despite dropping the first set 25-14, the Yellowjackets responded with back-to-back set wins (25-19, 25-22). After a rough fourth set (17-25), Graceland came up big in the decisive fifth, sealing the match with a 17-15 win following key kills from Young and senior middle hitter Kylee Dixon (Lawson, Mo.).

Senior Grace Jensen (Rosemount, Minn.) added 7 kills and 9 digs, while sophomore Evie Caresia (Lawson, Mo.) contributed 5 kills and was a consistent force at the net with 5 block assists.

Clarke was paced by Amelia Driver, who recorded 12 kills on .280 hitting. The Pride's Kortney Harms added 9 kills and 24 assists but struggled with errors, posting a .120 hitting percentage. Setter Kelsey NeCollins was effective in transition and finished with 8 kills on .429 hitting.

Graceland hit .134 as a team and held Clarke to just .106, thanks to sustained defensive pressure and timely service runs. The Yellowjackets capitalized on Clarke's 32 attack errors and 12 reception errors, which proved decisive in momentum swings throughout the match.

With just a few matches remaining in regular season play, the win marks a positive turn for Graceland as they prepare for postseason seeding within the Heart of America Conference. McDole's squad continues to focus on system execution and service strategy heading into the final stretch.

Next up, Graceland travels to take on William Penn University on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 7:00 p.m. CDT. The match will be held at the Penn Activity Center in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

For more information on Graceland women's volleyball and all of Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.