GALESBURG, Ill. — With season highs of 53 kills, a .218 attack percentage and 13 service aces, the Knox College volleyball team brushed off visiting Beloit College in four sets on homecoming weekend, 27-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-15. Junior Elle Haddon led a balanced attack for the Prairie Fire (3-19, 1-1 Midwest Conference) with a dozen kills, while sophomore Zoe Thunhurst added a double-double of 10 kills and a team-high 21 digs.
The Buccaneers fell to 2-15 on the season and 0-4 in the league.
The opening set was a back-and-forth affair with neither side ahead by more than four points at any point. Both teams had an opportunity to win the set, serving while needing just one point to secure it. But after Beloit took a 25-24 lead, Knox roared back with three straight points on a kill by junior Lydia Karli, an ace from senior Sam Black and a resounding kill by sophomore Maria Jabor Jahn.
An early six-point run in the second set allowed the Prairie Fire to lead by as many as six, but the Buccaneers clawed back to within one at 17-16. Knox took control from there, winning eight of the next nine points, including the final five in a row (ending on consecutive aces by sophomore Madelyn Dittrich) to take a commanding 2-0 lead.
It looked as if Knox would win in straight sets as it took an 17-8 lead in the third set. But credit to Beloit for battling back and closing the set with six straight points to stay in the match.
The rally only delayed the Prairie Fire victory as it turned out, as Knox controlled the fourth set from the outset by jumping out to a 7-1 lead. Only once did the Buccaneers close to as little as three, but the Fire torched Beloit with 14 kills while holding the visitors to six in the set.
- Dittrich and sophomore Bri Holland split the setting duties and each recorded a double-double — the second of Holland's career (19 assists, 14 digs) and the first for Dittrich (17 assists, 13 digs).
- Thunhurst led the Prairie Fire with five aces and Dittrich added four.
- Senior defensive specialist Zoe Pav chipped in 19 digs to the defensive effort as well.
- Senior Amelia Gamez had a career-high nine kills, Karli had a season-high eight and Jabor Jahn added eight more.
Knox will play its Dig Pink match next when it hosts Webster University (5-13) on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. The match will be streamed live with live stats available through PrairieFire.Knox.edu, the official website of Knox College Athletics.
