GALESBURG, Ill. — The Knox College volleyball team had its modest two-match winning streak snapped in its final home contest of the season as visiting Monmouth College claimed the match in straight sets, 25-10, 25-18, 25-17 at Memorial Gymnasium on Wednesday evening. Layne Wright led the Fighting Scots (18-9, 6-1 Midwest Conference) with 16 kills, while first-year Maria Clara Jabor Jahn had six swats for the Prairie Fire (3-19, 2-4 MWC).
In the first set, Knox was within a point at 9-8 following one of Jabor Jahn's kills, but Monmouth ripped off a pair of eight-point streaks to pull away and take a 1-0 lead. The Fighting Scots took a big early lead in the second stanza, only to have the Prairie Fire battle back within two at 12-10 and again at 17-15. That would be as close as Knox would get, and Wright provided kills on her team's last three points for the commanding 2-0 advantage.
Sophomore Lydia Karli had back-to-back kills for the first two Prairie Fire points in the third set to erase an early 2-0 deficit, and Knox kept it close at 9-8 before Monmouth claimed the next five points. Jabor Jahn produced Knox's last three points of the match with kills, but it was not enough to keep up with the Scots.
- Monmouth finished the game with 42 kills as a team, hitting at a .264 clip, to just 18 putaways for the Prairie Fire.
- Wolters, named the MWC Offensive Performer of the Week yesterday, led Knox with 15 digs but was held to just four kills.
- The Fighting Scots have won the last seven meetings, including both this season.
Knox plays its final three matches of the year on the road, beginning with an 11 a.m. start at Illinois College (12-14, 3-3 MWC) on Saturday morning. Live video and stats will be available through the official website of Knox College Athletics, PrairieFire.Knox.edu.
