Calumet Box Score | IU-Southeast Box Score
Winona Lake, Ind. – The coaching career of Megan Garner is off and running as she guided her Lady Panthers to a pair of wins on Friday at the Grace College Classic in Winona Lake, IN. Davenport defeated Calumet College and Indiana University Southeast both in straight sets as they will take on the host Lancers on Saturday morning.
A new era in Davenport volleyball got off to a blazing start on Friday afternoon as the Lady Panthers posted their first ever win in their season opener and gave Coach Megan Garner her first collegiate coaching victory in the process.
In the opening match against Calumet College of St. Joseph, it was all DU from the opening set as the Lady Panthers won convincingly 25-3, 25-10, 25-13. Seven different players posted at least two kills during the match led by sophomore Kassie Graves (White Cloud, Mich.) with seven while hitting at a .438 clip.
The team combined to post 25 kills on just 53 attempts for a .321 hitting percentage and the defense was just as strong limiting the Crimson Wave to a -.270 percentage and only seven kills as a team. Senior Kayla Vandermolen (Cedar Springs, Mich.) dished out 18 assists and freshman Ashley Hines (Canton, Mich.) shared top dig honors with Courtney DePriest (Grand Rapids, Mich.) as they each posted six.
The second match was much closer with the IU-Southeast Grenadiers but it was Davenport who prevailed in straight sets (29-27, 25-20, 25-23). As the offense cooled off a little from the opening match sweep, the defense picked up the slack finishing with 81 digs and four total team blocks.
Courtney DePriest racked up 35 digs during the three sets which is the third most in a single match in school history. Sophomore Kelse Moon (Fremont, Mich.) finished the night with a double-double posting 11 kills and 12 digs. The right side hitter also led the team with one solo block and three block assists.
Kassie Graves once again led the team in kills with 14 as she led a group of seven Lady Panthers to finish with at least four in the match. Kayla Vandermolen finished the match with 40 assists, six kills and seven digs.
Davenport will now take on the host school Grace College on Saturday morning at 11:00 in the final match of pool play. The winner will then take part in the championship match at 2:00 PM.
