Holly Schmidt and Christiana McQuin fight off the Jackrabbits.

Volleyball finishes a positive season

By: Elyssa Brogdon

Posted: 11/17/08

The match on Friday night began with the UMKC Athletics Department honoring volleyball's four seniors: middle hitter Liz Pollock, outside hitter Jacqui Wood, setter Danni Sperry and libero Mandy Tipton.

All four were starters in the match against the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Jackrabbits.

"I think the four seniors have really stepped up and given this program more expectations," Head Coach Geno Frugoli said. "I'm just really proud of their effort this year, their leadership, and just the character they have shown throughout the year."

The Roos' 1-3 losing effort against their guests started with a well-fought first set before the Jackrabbits hopped up four straight points, 12-8.

Freshman middle hitter Brittany Fossier ended their streak with a kill, and a Tipton block brought UMKC to within a point at 11-12. A few minutes later, freshman outside hitter Christiana McQuin tied the game, 14-14.

Another string of ties ensued before the Jackrabbits again grabbed a four-point lead. The Roos went on a streak of their own and, behind the hands of Tipton, tied the game 22-22. The game, however, ended in SDSU's favor, 25-23.

The Roos got off to another strong start (9-3) in the second set and held the lead for the rest of the game. Freshman outside hitter Elizabeth Beck's kill ended the game in the Roos' favor, 25-18.

"I felt like we should be playing like this all the time," Frugoli said. "We forced them to make mistakes they don't usually make and we capitalized on that. We should be able to do that over and over again."

Though the Roos led the beginning of the third game, the Jackrabbits fought to 8-8, 9-9 and 11-11 ties, and took the lead coming out of a 12-12 tie.

The Roos climbed the scoreboard reaching 20-20 and 21-21 ties, both on Fossier scores, but the Jackrabbits leaped above, and ended the game on a four-point run, 25-21.

The fourth set was tied repeatedly during the first half before SDSU gained a significant edge, but the Roos fought back to 16-17.

The Jackrabbits again went ahead with a three-point lead. The Roos managed to come close again at 21-22 and 22-23, but the set and match ended with a Jackrabbit victory 25-22.

"I think they played with a lot of heart, and I think they played fairly well at times," Frugoli said. "But under pressure, and in those pressure filled moments, we just have to take better positions."

The volleyball team ended their season with a 5-11 conference record and a 12-20 overall record, showing much improvement from the 2007-08 season's 2-14 conference record and 5-27 overall record.

The Roos traveled Sunday evening to Tulsa, Okla., to take on Oral Roberts University in the final match of the season.

ebrogdon@unews.edu