September 25, 1998
MILLIKIN VICTORY GIVES MONMOUTH THE BLUES
Monmouth,IL -- The Monmouth College women’s volleyball team has been playing very well lately but ran into a hotter team on Thursday night as the Fighting Scots fell to Millikin University in four games. Millikin (8-5) has won 8 of their last ten matches and used precision passing and a powerful hitting game to defeat the Scots, whose usual solid defense was a bit rocky. Monmouth falls to 8-3 with the non-conference loss. Game scores were 4-15, 14-16, 15-3 and 6-15.
Monmouth got itself into an early hole, falling behind 4-0 in the first game. The Scots trailed 9-4 at one point before Millikin ripped off the final six points of the game to win behind accurate serves and hard-hitting kills. Sophomore Abby Pollentier (East Moline,IL/United Township) opened the second game with four straight service points for Monmouth and the Scots eventually led 7-0 before the Big Blue scored. However, the guests came storming back to take a 12-7 advantage. Sophomore Cathie Osborn (Hartsburg,IL/Hartsburg-Emden) started a string of three consecutive points at serve with an ace and a kill by senior Michelle Kommer (Monticello,IL/ Monticello) later tied the match at 13-13. The two teams traded points and sideouts before Millikin gained a 16-14 victory.
Setter Cindy Erlandson (Kirkwood,IL/Yorkwood), who finished with a team-high 18 assists, and her sister Wendy Erlandson (Kirkwood,IL/ Yorkwood) (9 kills, 21 blocks) began to click in the third game and it looked as if the hosts might pull off another big rally. The teams were tied at 3-3 but a Kommer ace and a big block at the net by Wendy Erlandson helped to put the Scots ahead 8-3. Cindy Erlandson served five straight points for Monmouth and two kills by Kommer closed out the game and gave the Scots life for a fourth game. Millikin was able to regain the momentum in the final game, breaking an early 3-3 tie with eight straight points behind strong play at the net. The Scots climbed to within 13-6 but two Big Blue points closed out the match and secured the win for the visitors.
Wendy Erlandson’s 9 kills led the Scot offense as Osborn added 8 and Kommer 7. Kommer posted a match-high 19 digs on defense and Pollentier and freshman Rebecca Lang (Midlothian,IL/Oak Forest) each contributed seven blocks to the Monmouth effort at the net.
The Scots next travel south to Elsah, Illinois for the Principia Invitational Tournament this weekend before continuing Midwest Conference league action on October 1st at Illinois College.