2008 Woodie Awards
Volleyball: Striking victory
Volleyballers win SLIAC tourney,ready for Nov. 9, NCAA match with Rhodes College
By: Rachel Lebo
Issue date: 11/9/06 Section: Sports
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Five was the unlucky number for the Webster women's volleyball team this season. The Gorloks dominated most of their opponents in three games, but eight out of their 10 losses came down to the fifth game which as fate may have it, ultimately determined the winner of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
The Gorloks didn't let their past with the unlucky number affect their performance and instead won their first match in the fifth.
"The game against Principia College was very intense," Senior Susi Reigel said. "We went to five games. All season long, we had not won a game that went to five, but we did on Nov. 4 when it counted most."
The Gorloks will represent the SLIAC in the NCAA Division III tournament, held 4:30 Nov. 9 at Washington University.
Principia College has the best SLIAC record and won the season title, but the loss to the Gorloks eliminated Principia's chance to play in the NCAA.
"I'm so excited to be heading to the national tournament," Senior Melanie Klingelhoefer said. "This has been a personal goal of mine since I came to Webster. We have a lot of talent this year, and I'm so happy we have this opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament."
The Gorloks played well Nov. 4 at Principia in game one against the Panthers, and won the match 30-27. Game two went even better, and the Gorloks won 30-19.
In game three, the Gorloks had nine hitting errors and Principia won 23-30. The Gorloks had another five hitting errors in game four and lost the match 28-30.
"Game five was back and forth," Head Coach Merry Graf said. "It was close the entire way, with neither team ever gaining a lead of more than one or two points. We've lost every match we've played this year that went to five, and I think the team was determined to change that."
The team's determination paid off, and the Gorloks won the match 16-14.
Before the championship game against Principia, the Gorloks played against Greenville College, a team they defeated Oct. 31 in a home game they won in three games.
The Gorloks didn't let their past with the unlucky number affect their performance and instead won their first match in the fifth.
"The game against Principia College was very intense," Senior Susi Reigel said. "We went to five games. All season long, we had not won a game that went to five, but we did on Nov. 4 when it counted most."
The Gorloks will represent the SLIAC in the NCAA Division III tournament, held 4:30 Nov. 9 at Washington University.
Principia College has the best SLIAC record and won the season title, but the loss to the Gorloks eliminated Principia's chance to play in the NCAA.
"I'm so excited to be heading to the national tournament," Senior Melanie Klingelhoefer said. "This has been a personal goal of mine since I came to Webster. We have a lot of talent this year, and I'm so happy we have this opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament."
The Gorloks played well Nov. 4 at Principia in game one against the Panthers, and won the match 30-27. Game two went even better, and the Gorloks won 30-19.
In game three, the Gorloks had nine hitting errors and Principia won 23-30. The Gorloks had another five hitting errors in game four and lost the match 28-30.
"Game five was back and forth," Head Coach Merry Graf said. "It was close the entire way, with neither team ever gaining a lead of more than one or two points. We've lost every match we've played this year that went to five, and I think the team was determined to change that."
The team's determination paid off, and the Gorloks won the match 16-14.
Before the championship game against Principia, the Gorloks played against Greenville College, a team they defeated Oct. 31 in a home game they won in three games.
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