GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay volleyball team notched two more victories Saturday afternoon to complete the Green Bay Invite, defeating SIU-Edwardsville 3-1 before sweeping Western Illinois in the evening contest.
GB has won four consecutive games to improve to 9-5 before they begin Horizon League play Tuesday night at IUPUI.
Cora Behnke paced the Phoenix with 12 kills against SIUE. She didn't appear in the match against Western Illinois, but Green Bay got a solid performance from freshman standout Kendall Schara, who tallied nine kills on 26 attacks against the Leathernecks. Kayla Lass led all players with 32 digs between the two contests. Calli Gentry had an impressive day, which included racking up 83 assists and 10 points.
Sydney Hummert led SIUE with 12 kills, while Brittany Wulf had a team-leading nine kills for the Leathernecks. Hummert was the only player between SIUE and WIU to reach double-digit kills against Green Bay.
Behnke was named Tournament MVP, while Lass and Gentry were named to the All-Tournament Team.
GREEN BAY 3, SIU EDWARDSVILLE 1
SET 1 | Green Bay got off to a good start, opening up an eight point lead at 12-4. The Phoenix got a solid defensive performance from a front row that blocked five SIU-Edwardsville attacks in the stanza. SIUE pulled to within two at 15-13, but the Phoenix closed the set out by outscoring the Cougars 10-5 the rest of the way.
SET 2 | The Phoenix came out firing in the second set, opening up a 4-0 lead immediately. However, SIUE fought back, eventually taking a 15-14 lead. The Cougars were able to pull it out at the end, largely because of attack errors from Green Bay. Six of the final nine points SIUE scored were off Phoenix errors. The Cougars won 25-23, tying the match at one apiece.
SET 3 | It was back-and-forth to begin the third set, but GB started to pull away, taking a commanding 10-4 lead after Alexandra Zakutney notched a kill. SIUE tried to make another comeback, cutting the deficit to six, but Tiffany Paalman tallied several kills to help GB stave off the Cougars comeback.
SET 4 | The Cougars would start strong in an attempt to force a fifth set, taking a 7-5 lead. It wouldn't last long, as Green Bay opened the floodgates with a 17-2 run. The momentum swing would carry Green Bay to a 25-16 set victory and a 3-1 win over SIUE.
GREEN BAY 3, WESTERN ILLINOIS 0
SET 1 | The Phoenix took the momentum swing from the SIUE victory and used it against Western Illinois, opening up the match with a 5-1 lead. Green Bay would break the set wide open, expanding the lead to eighth before eventually closing the set 25-19.
SET 2 | Green Bay took advantage of a sluggish Western Illinois offense in the second set, winning 25-11. The Leathernecks recorded seven errors, while Zakutney and Paalman combined for eight kills. Shannon Coughlin chipped in with four kills in the set as well.
SET 3 | WIU was toe-to-toe with GB to start, tying the set at nine after a Zakutney attack error. However, Green Bay would go on a 7-2 run, springing them to a five-point lead at 16-11. WIU would fight back to pull within three at 16-13, but GB would again run away for a 25-18 set victory. The Leathernecks racked up 19 errors in the 3-0 loss.
GAME NOTES
» Green Bay had three players in double figures in kills, along with three players in double figures in digs against SIUE.
» The Phoenix had an attack percentage of .395 in the fourth set, propelling them to the win against the Cougars.
» Annelise Sparks finished the match against SIUE second on GB in assists (3) and digs (14).
» Zakutney surpassed 150 kills on the season in the win against Western Illinois.
» Lass notched 23 of her 32 digs against WIU.
» Gentry had a match-high three aces and 46 assists in the win over the Leathernecks.
ON THE HORIZON
GB won't have much time to rest, as they open their Horizon League season on Tuesday at IUPUI. The match is slated to start at 5 p.m. CT.
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