Iowa Wesleyan volleyball team edged by MacMurray on senior night

The Tigers hosted MacMurray College on Tuesday, looking to put an end to their two game losing streak. Iowa Wesleyan recognized their seniors (Lexa Mahr, Alyssa Morales and Kali Unruh) before their final home game of the season. IW suffered a heartbreaking loss against the Highlanders in five sets by scores of 16-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-22, and 14-16.

The Tigers got off to a slow start on the night and quickly fell behind. They made a late run but eventually dropped the first set 16-25. Iowa Wesleyan recorded six kills but committed eight attack errors in the loss.

They bounced back in the second set and had the upper hand in the attack game. IW put down IW kills compared to MacMurray?s four kills in set number two of the night.

MacMurray won the third set of the evening to go up 2-1 over the Tigers. The Highlanders used 13 kills and just four errors to take a 25-18 win in the third set. Errors once again hurt Iowa Wesleyan. They committed eight attack errors while only converting for six kills in the set.

The fourth set was a close game with the scoring going back and forth. The Tigers were able to come out with a 25-22 win over MacMurray thanks to 11 kills and only two attack errors. The Highlanders out hit the Tigers in the set, but committed 11 errors in the set. The win by IW evened the series at 2-2 and forced a fifth and deciding set.

MacMurray came out firing in the final set of the night and built a lead. They were the first of the two teams to reach the eight point mark. Iowa Wesleyan did not go away, however, and would come back to take the lead. The Highlanders took the set and match with a 16-14 victory in the final set.

Mahr had a big night for the Tigers on senior night. She had missed the last three games with an injury but came out Tuesday night and had 16 kills, 22 assists, and 14 digs. Mahr also finished the night with a .227 hitting percentage in the five sets of action. Cierra Howard was all over on defense, recording 33 digs on the night. Maggie Earney finished the night with 16 digs and 11 assists. Jordan Miller and Cassandra Schwamborn each had six digs to finish behind Mahr on the night. Schwamborn also added 15 digs in the five sets.

Iowa Wesleyan will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 24. They will travel to Elsah, Ill. to take on Principia College at 1 p.m.