PIPPA PASSES, Ky. -- In a convincing straight-set triumph, the Shawnee State volleyball program faced little trouble, as the Bears hit an astronomical .434 as a team, posted seven solo blocks and never relented control in a 3-0 victory over Alice Lloyd (25-14, 25-9, 25-12), clinching a winning record inside River States Conference competition and sealing the No. 5 seed in River States Conference Tournament action with the Bears' victory over the Eagles Saturday afternoon at the Perry Campus Center in Pippa Passes, Ky.
Game Summary
With a large lead throughout much of its play Saturday afternoon, Shawnee State spread the wealth over much of its match -- as the Bears were ultimately led by Kylee Gifford who posted 12 kills on just 15 attack attempts, all without an attack error, to nab an astronomical .800 attack percentage, while Camille McIntosh added in 10 kills on 17 attack attempts and committed just three attack errors herself to post a .412 attack percentage.
Maelynn Howell and Haidyn Wamsley also added in strong attack numbers -- with Howell posting five kills on eight attempts without an attack error to post a .625 attack percentage, and Wamsley posting five additional spikes on 11 attempts without a recorded error for a .455 attack percentage. Wamsley also added in five blocks to lead Shawnee State defensively, while Camille Hall completed the frontline efforts with four kills.
From a setting standpoint, Makaela Lovely led Shawnee State with 32 assists and nine digs, while Megan Steele's 13 digs and Ava Jenkins' eight dives led the backline for the Bears.
Milestone-wise, several individuals inched closer to significant achievements:
- Ava Jenkins now holds 987 digs for her career as a Bear. Jenkins is just 13 digs away from 1,000 and is 13th all-time in digs.
- Haidyn Wamsley now has 914 kills for her Shawnee State career -- and has moved into ninth place all-time in program history in career kills.
- Makaela Lovely has 916 assists for her Shawnee State career, and sits 14th all-time in the category as a result.
- Megan Steele now has 829 digs at SSU during her third season, and sits 17th all time in program history in the category.
- Kylee Gifford now sits sixth all-time with 285 total blocks, while Haidyn Wamsley is 10th in the same category with 256 total blocks.
Tournament Preview
By virtue of finishing 9-7 overall in River States Conference play as part of its 16-12 overall record, the Bears locked up the No. 5 seed in the River States Conference Tournament and will play No. 4 Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
The Pomeroys are led by the following:
- 5-6 senior libero Jocelyn Chavez (469 digs)
- 5-9 sophomore outside hitter Karla Melendez (322 kills, .217 attack percentage, 225 digs)
- 5-8 senior middle hitter Alex Hernandez (205 kills, .367 attack percentage, 58 blocks)
- 5-7 senior setter Alexis Keoho (456 assists)
- 5-6 junior setter Aden Britt (352 assists)
The Bears have been buoyed by:
No. 5 Shawnee State will play at No. 4 Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind. The winner advances to Friday evening's River States Conference Semifinals -- and the semifinals, along with the RSC Championship Game, will be held at the site of the highest remaining seed left after Tuesday's River States Conference Quarterfinals.
