Tigers stifled by Principia

The Iowa Wesleyan volleyball team was upendedin three sets by Principia on Monday night. The Tigers fell 25-16, 25-18 and 25-22 to fall to 4-14.

The Tigers had a slow start to the game as Principia took an early 5-1 lead. IW stormed back to take a 6-5 advantage on a Lida Landre kill, but that was the last lead of the set. Principia scored the next eight points to take a 13-6 aadvantage.

The Tigers climbed back to cut the lead to four points, at 16-12, capped off by back-to-back kills from Allegra Collette, but that was as close as they'd get in a 25-16 loss.

Four-straight Principia points to start the second set put the Tigers in another hole. IW came back to tie the game at 6-6 but could never take the lead. Principia held a steady lead throughout the rest of the match and took the second set 25-18.

IW looked like they might fold in the third set, trailing 9-1 early and 20-10 at one point, but the Tigers showed some heart to get back into it.

Sydney Ellsworth and Paige Kammerer each caught fire late in the set and the Tigers had cut the lead to two points, at 24-22. Principia closed it out on the next point, however, to complete the sweep 25-22.

Ellsworth finished the night with 10 kills to lead the squad. Landre had seven kills and Collette finished with six.

Ariel Smale had 16 assists to lead the team. Kammerer was in double digits as well, with 11.

Jenna Murphy had 16 digs to lead the defense. She was one of three players with double digs. Kammerer and Ellsworth each finished with 11 digs.

The Tigers had just five service errors in the loss but also only had one ace. Landre had that lone ace in the third set.

IW is now 4-14 overall and 2-6 in conference play. They'll head to Greenville University for a SLIAC match on Wednesday, Oct. 3.