Volleyball vs Illinois Institute of Technology on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024.
Knox College
Lydia Karli celebrates one of her career-high 11 kills.
3
Winner Rockford Rock 8-7,0-6 NACC
2
Knox KC 0-17,0-2 Midwest
Winner
Rockford Rock
8-7,0-6 NACC
3
Final
2
Knox KC
0-17,0-2 Midwest
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Rockford Rock 23 25 25 22 15 (3)
Knox KC 25 20 21 25 11 (2)

Game Recap: Volleyball |

Volleyball Pushes Rockford to Five Sets

Numerous players recorded a plethora of career highs in the tough loss

GALESBURG, Ill. ­— In the first five-game match for Knox College in nearly two years, the Prairie Fire come up just short against visiting Rockford University, falling to the Regents (8-7) by scores of 23-25, 25-20, 25-21, 22-25, 15-11. Numerous players set single-match personal bests for Knox (0-17), led by senior Caroline Wolters with 20 kills.

The Prairie Fire, which had won just one set all season prior to tonight's match at Memorial Gym, set the tone early by winning the first nine points. First-year Maria Clara Jabor Jahn helped Knox hold off Rockford with a team-best six kills. Wolters had five of her own in the second set, but the Regents had 15 kills as a team to just nine for Knox to draw even after two stanzas.

In the third set, the Prairie Fire fell behind by as many as eight points, 16-8, before storming back to take a 20-19 edge. But they couldn't maintain that momentum as Rockford took six of the last seven points to take the 2-1 lead. When the Regents jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the fourth set, it looked like Knox's fate was sealed. Again the Prairie Fire displayed resilience and rallied, ripping off five straight points for a 13-10 advantage. They never lost the lead, though the difference was never more than three points until set point.

The decisive fifth set was another back-and-forth affair. Neither team enjoyed a lead of more than two points by the team Knox held a slim 11-10 lead, but Rockford won the final five points to escape Galesburg with the victory.

  • Other Prairie Fire players with career highs in kills were Jabor Johns (12), sophomore Lydia Karli (11), and first-year Zoe Thunhurst (9).
  • Thunhurst also recorded personal bests with 31 assists and 19 digs, narrowly missing out on a triple-double.
  • Junior libero Sam Black also had a career high with a team-best 33 digs, and junior Carly Smith had a hand in five blocks, another personal best.
  • Rockford had a .181 attack percentage as a team, edging out Knox's season-high .157.

The Prairie Fire continue a six-game home stand on Friday at 7 p.m. with Midwest Conference rival Beloit (2-15, 0-2 MWC) in town. Live video and stats will be available through PrairieFire.Knox.edu, the official website of Knox College Athletics.

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