JACKSONVILLE, ILL. – The Luther volleyball team closed out the Illinois College Invitational with a sweep of Anderson University (IN) 25-17, 25-11, 25-19 and a loss to Blackburn in four sets by 26-24, 18-25, 26-28, 14-25. The Norse are now 1-3 on the season.
 
Match #1: Luther (3) vs Anderson University (IN) (0)
Luther found its first win of the season sweeping Anderson University (IN) 3-0. Every set the Norse held control from start to finish never relinquishing their lead.
 
The key to the first set was the offense as the Norse hit .250 as a team. Luther raced out to a 10-3 lead as the Ravens struggled to find their footing early. The Norse kept extending the lead through tough hitting and service aces. Zoe Verhey (Dassel, Minn. / Dassel-Cokato) tallied six kills on seven attempts for a nearly perfect hitting percentage in the 25-17 victory.
 
The Norse dominated the second set 25-11. In the third, Anderson seemed to have some life even threatening the Norse coming within three at 16-13. That didn't phase Luther as they took back control for the 25-19 win and sweep.
 
Success came from their middle blockers Sarina Stortz (Mabel, Minn. / Mabel-Canton) and Verhey combined for 13 kills to secure victory the two went one and two on team leaders in kills. Statistically the team led in all categories, including 12 aces.
 
Match #2: Luther (1) vs Blackburn (3)
The Norse hitters once again were off to a hot start but this set would stay tight the opening set. Both the Beavers and Norse never went on a run of more than four points at a time. The teams battled as Blackburn reached set point but Luther railed back with a kill from Haley Gossman (Decorah, Iowa / Decorah) to tie it up at 24. The Norse rattled off two back-to-back points with kills from Emma Kowalczyk (Colgate, Wis. / Catholic Memorial) and Gabbie Schei (Stewartville, Minn. / Stewartville) to win the set 26-24.
 
The Beavers answered right back taking the second set 25-18. The third set was similar to the first. As the set went on both teams were giving it their all. The Norse had chance to close it out at 24-21 off a kill from Stortz. Blackburn came back going on a four-point run to come within one for set point. Then Norse had a second set point opportunity at 26-25 but the Beavers closed out the set narrowly by a score of 28-26.
 
Blackburn took the match winning the final set 25-14.
 
QUOTE FROM COACH
"Opening weekend is the opportunity to learn. We're looking forward to getting back to work this week."
 
TOP NORSE

• Zoe Verhey (Dassel, Minn. / Dassel-Cokato) tallied six kills off seven attempts in the match against Anderson University (IN) for an .856 hitting percentage.

 
UP NEXT
The Norse head to St. Paul, Minnesota for the Macalester Invitational on Friday, September 8^th for a 6:00 p.m. match against Grinnell College.