MOUNT VERNON, Iowa — Lawrence swept Monmouth College 3-0 on Friday at the Small Athletic and Wellness Center. Lawrence dominated the first two sets, winning 25-12 and 25-18, before closing the match with a 28-26 victory in the third set. Lawrence's attack was efficient, achieving a .293 hitting percentage, and the team recorded 52 assists. The Scots struggled offensively, hitting just .088 in the match. Lawrence improved its defensive presence with 68 digs, limiting Monmouth's scoring opportunities.
Lawrence started the first set with steady play, quickly recovering from an early deficit with key contributions from Cook and Weier. After Monmouth took a brief lead at 2-0, Cook's kill from Wessel tied the score at 2-2. The teams exchanged points, remaining level until Lawrence began to pull away midway through the set.
Weier was instrumental in shifting momentum, recording multiple kills that pushed Lawrence ahead. A series of errors from Monmouth players widened the gap, while
Alayna Geiser and
Annaliesse Schmall added critical points. Lawrence's strategic play and strong attacks allowed them to build a commanding lead.
As the set progressed, Lawrence maintained control, with Cook and Geiser contributing decisive kills that extended their lead. Lawrence closed the set with a 25-12 advantage, establishing a strong position early in the match.
In the second set, Lawrence staged a strong comeback after an early deficit. Weier initiated the shift with a kill from Corrente's assist, helping to narrow the score gap. The team then rallied, with Cook delivering crucial kills and capitalizing on Monmouth's errors to equalize at 15-15.
From there, Lawrence seized control, with Cook continuing her impactful play, contributing multiple kills during a pivotal stretch. This offensive surge was complemented by a service ace from Weier, which propelled Lawrence ahead. The set concluded with Lawrence maintaining momentum, securing a 25-18 victory to close the set.
In the third set, Lawrence faced an early challenge as Monmouth took a quick 3-0 lead. However, Lawrence responded with a series of kills from Weier, Cook, and Schmall, leveling the score at 3-3. A service ace from Wessel helped propel Lawrence into a brief lead, but Monmouth kept the set tightly contested.
As the set progressed, Lawrence found momentum with consistent contributions from Corrente, who assisted on multiple key plays. Despite Monmouth's efforts to regain control, Lawrence capitalized on errors and maintained a close scoreline. The set remained intense as both teams traded points, with Lawrence eventually securing a narrow victory in the set with a final two kills from Cook and Wessel, ending at 28-26.
The Vikings will advance to the Midwest Conference Championship Tournament Final tomorrow, Saturday, November 15, at 1:00 PM for the first time in program history, and will face Cornell College.
Lawrence Top Performers
Audrey Weier
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- 16 kills with a .438 hitting percentage
- one service ace
- six digs
- 18 points
Hazel Cook
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- 16 kills
- 17 digs
- 17.5 points
Ally Corrente
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- 39 assists
- 17 digs
Aria Wessel
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- 17 digs
- two service aces
