Women's Volleyball 9/5/2015 12:00:00 AM

Volleyball downs Rochester in three to win home opener

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Sophomore Leah Rose served up a career-high seven aces and junior Rebekah Kujat tallied 12 kills to lead the Spring Arbor University volleyball team to a 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-18) win over Rochester College in its home opener on Friday night.

Spring Arbor was right back in action the next afternoon visiting unbeaten Lourdes University where the Cougars would fall to the Gray Wolves in straight sets (18-25, 11-25, 16-25).

Against Rochester, the Cougars never trailed in the first set after jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead. The Warriors battled back to narrow the deficit to two, 9-7, but an 8-2 run by SAU – highlighted by a pair of Rose aces and Kujat kills – secured the win in the opening frame.

After falling behind early in set two, Spring Arbor rallied with a 7-1 scoring spurt to gain the advantage. Rochester closed the gap to four late, 22-18, but would commit back-to-back errors before sophomore Olivia Landis finished the set with a kill.

Rochester, who had won eight straight entering the match, refusing to go down without a fight and came charging out of the gates in the third set building a 10-6 lead. The Cougars chipped away at the deficit before Rose notched three consecutive aces as part of a 5-0 run to give SAU a lead that it would not surrender.

Rose added eight kills and a match-high 11 digs while Landis chipped in seven kills. Freshman Kasey Follis dished out 30 assists, and junior Taylor Johnston and sophomore Gabrielle Hilliard recorded 10 digs apiece.

In the match at Lourdes, the Cougars had trouble finding its rhythm offensively hitting just .038 on the afternoon. Kujat paced SAU with nine kills while Follis registered a double-double with 15 assists and 10 digs.

Spring Arbor (4-7, 0-1 Crossroads League) will look to bounce back when it hosts Marian University (1-1, 1-0 Crossroads League) on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#12 Taylor Johnston: DS; 5' 8"; Junior; /

#14 Rebekah Kujat: OH; 6' 0"; Junior; /

#6 Olivia Landis: MH; 5' 10"; Sophomore; /

#15 Gabrielle Hilliard: S; 5' 7"; Sophomore; /

#2 Kasey Follis: S/RS; 5' 11"; Freshman; /

Players Mentioned

#12 Taylor Johnston
: 5' 8"; Junior; /
: DS

#14 Rebekah Kujat
: 6' 0"; Junior; /
: OH

#6 Olivia Landis
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; /
: MH

#15 Gabrielle Hilliard
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; /
: S

#2 Kasey Follis
: 5' 11"; Freshman; /
: S/RS