Beloit College used a balanced attack to upend Knox College 3-1 in the Prairie Fire's home opener Saturday.
The Buccaneers (7-7, 1-1 MWC), coming off a 3-0 loss in their Midwest Conference opener the night before, got off to a fast start, winning the first game against Knox 25-11. The Prairie Fire managed just two kills in the first game and had seven hitting errors.
Knox (5-9, 0-2 MWC) roared back in an exciting second game and won 27-25. Sophomore Kristin McDonald (Chicago, Illinois) was especially effective, contributing five of her eight kills, a team high she shared with fellow hitter, junior Kelly Ricketts (Galesburg, Illinois).
Beloit claimed the third game 25-20 and concluded the match with a 25-19 decision in game four. McDonald added six digs to her eight kill afternoon. Ricketts also had six digs while first-year setter Nina Mack contributed 24 assists, four digs and an ace.
Two players for the veteran Bucs had double-figure kills and two others were close. Beloit started four seniors, two juniors and a first-year libero.
One of the seniors, outside hitter Tess Jacquez, led Beloit with 13 kills, 13 digs, four assists and two aces. Another senior, outside hitter Mary Parker, had 10 kills and 17 digs. Laura Toth contributed nine kills and five digs while 6'2" junior Emma Kozera recorded eight kills and four solo blocks.
Knox sophomore Natalee Young (Albuquerque, New Mexico), a 5'10" hitter, caused problems for Beloit with her length. Young had six blocks -- three solo and three assisted -- to go along with six kills. First-year middle hitter Amber Eisha (South Wilmington, Illinois) added three solo blocks and assisted on another.
Other Prairie Fire contributions came from junior libero Lisa Blagg (Winthrop Harbor, Illinois), who had 18 digs, and first-year outside hitter Kaylie Prince (Westminster, Colorado) had five kills, four digs and both a solo and assisted blocks.
The Fire will try to put the brakes on a three-match losing streak Thursday night at home against Greenville College. The two teams met on the Panthers' home floor September 11. Greenville, a member of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, won the match 3-0 (25-16, 27-25, 25-22).
The Panthers (8-4, 4-1 SLIAC), after winning seven straight matches, have lost two straight going into Monday night's home contest against St. Louis Pharmacy.
Thursday night's match-up between Knox College and Greenville College bgins at 7:00 in Memorial Gymnasium.
