BABSON PARK, Fla. -- The Eagles extended their winning streak to seven with tonight's win over conference opponent Webber in a five-set battle, highlighted by Abby Hall's career-high 32 kill performance.
The Eagles managed to come away with first and second-set wins, both resulting in 25-23 scores, but couldn't hold on to the third and fourth sets, as the Warriors picked up their intensity and fought their way back into the match.
Hall got the Eagles going in set one with four kills and two service aces, while Julia Frassetto wouldn't let anything past the defense, tallying six digs. The Warriors led for most of the set, but the Eagles were relentless and tied it up at 23-23, seeming determined to win. Back-to-back Warrior attack errors put the Eagles at 23 on the scoreboard and allowed the Blue and Gold to head into set two with the momentum.
The Eagles picked up their offensive efforts in set two, as Hall rattled off six kills and Rebecca Heller, Taylor Martin, and Gloria Kemp combined for seven. The score was tied 10 total times in set two, but the end result saw the Eagles on top 25-23.
Sets three and four went to the Warriors, as their defense halted the Eagle attack. WIU picked up nine team blocks and 29 digs, and held the Eagles to 20 points in both sets.
The final set of the match saw both teams fighting for a chance to make a run, but the opportunity never arose, as the score was tied seven times in just 16 points. Hall's performance was most notable in the fifth set, as she recorded eight kills for the Eagles. The score was tied at 13-13, when an Eagle service error put the Warriors at match point on the scoreboard. Hall was ready to fire on the outside and put a ball to the floor to even the score once more at 14-14. The Warriors committed back-to-back attack errors in the final two points of the match and the Eagles were able to close out the set and match 16-14.
Hall finished the night with 32 kills, four aces, nine digs and two blocks. Kemp added 10 kills while Heller totaled five kills and six blocks. Frassetto closed out the match with a team-high 23 digs.
The Eagles remain undefeated in conference play with a 14-0 record. They now stand at 17-4 overall and look to pick up another conference win tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. against the Warner Royals in Lake Wales, Fla. The Eagles will return to action in the ICI Center on Wednesday, Oct. 21, as they take on the Flagler Saints at 7 p.m.
