Sophomore setter Caitlin Koenig continued her torrid pace as the UMKC volleyball squad's most efficient player, recording her second triple-double of the young season.
Her performance gave the Kangaroos a 3-2 win over the Drake University Bulldogs with scores of 34-32, 17-30, 30-27, 21-30 and 15-10.
According to UMKC head volleyball coach Geno Frugoli, the performance marked a rare feat for a member of any squad.
"Caitlin has shown us she can perform on both offense and defense for us at times," Frugoli said. "To get a pair of triple-doubles in such a short time is just such a rare thing in our sport."
Four other Roo players scored double-digit kills in the match. Sophomore outside hitter Kelly Gettinger, senior outside hitter Lauren Starks, and middle hitters Sarah Johnson, a senior, and Jamie Hagerman, a sophomore, reached double digits in the match.
The two squads played back-and-forth volleys throughout the first game of the match. Neither team was able to string together more than five points in succession at any time in the early going.
With the score 33-32, freshman outside hitter Holly Schmidt killed the shot that gave the Roos the game at 34-32.
In the ensuing game, the Bulldogs were able to stretch their lead from eight to 10, and finally finished 13 points out with a 30-17 pasting of UMKC. Game three went to the Kangaroos, 30-27 as the squad took 8-9 points from Drake in one stretch of action.
The fourth match went back and forth until the Bulldogs pulled away with a 30-21 victory. In the fifth and deciding game the Roos jumped out to a 11-2 lead early, then managed to hang on for a 15-10 win and the match victory.
dstroud@unews.com
