September 4th, 2009
(Photo of Jessica Stetler by Drew Engelke)
(Short Box Below Story)
CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Texas Lutheran women’s volleyball team opened its 2009 season in convincing fashion Friday afternoon with a 25-18, 25-14, 25-18 win over Chapman University (Calif.).
In each team’s opening match of the Pacific Coast Classic, hosted by Pomona-Pitzer Colleges (Calif.), the Bulldogs controlled play from the start against the Panthers.
TLU finished with team totals of 103 digs, 10 aces, and 13 blocks against Chapman. (TLU and Chapman are members of the NCAA Division III.)
Jessica Stetler, a returning AVCA Honorable Mention All-American, led TLU with 12 kills. The junior outside hitter from San Antonio (Churchill), added 24 digs, three solo blocks, and two aces.
Fellow junior outside hitter Sarah Black (Needville/Needville) contributed nine kills.
Senior setter Amanda Curry (Lago Vista/Lago Vista/Hardin-Simmons) dished out 31 assists and contributed two aces.
Junior libero Blair O’Brien (Austin/Manor) led the team in digs with 27, and freshman middle blocker Marcia Sagebiel (Yoakum/Yoakum) delivered five block assists. Junior middle blocker Eden Denney (Converse/Judson/Texas-San Antonio) added four block assists.
TLU continues play in the Pacific Coast Classic tonight with an 8:30 p.m. central match against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.). The Bulldogs conclude the tournament Saturday with matches against Pomona-Pitzer and La Verne (Calif.).
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Short Box Score
Texas Lutheran d. Chapman (Calif.)
25-18, 25-14, 25-18
TLU Statistics
Kills: Jessica Stetler 12, Sarah Black 9.
Assists: Amanda Curry 31.
Aces: 10 overall (Brooke Basey 3, Chrissy Johnson 3, Stetler 2, Curry 2)
Digs: 103 overall (Blair O’Brien 27, Stetler 24)
Blocks: 13 total team blocks (Marcia Sagebiel 5 block assists, Eden Denney 4 block assists, Stetler 3 solo blocks; Jamie Jahns 2 solo blocks).
Records: TLU 1-0; Chapman 0-1.