RIO GRANDE, Ohio -- Going 3-1 over the course of any weekend is a record that many program will take as a positive.
However, when a program sits 3-1 after a weekend in which it sat two difference-making starters in a wise decision that helps those individuals heal up while giving opportunities for other individuals to shine, it speaks volumes as to the depth and talent that is on one's roster.
Shawnee State posted nine total blocks as a team in Saturday's straight set victory over West Virginia Tech, outdug WV Tech and fellow Saturday foe Midway by at least 12 or more digs in each of its contests, and got an elite effort from freshman middle hitter
Katelynn Boerger in both contests as well to breeze past the Golden Bears (25-21, 25-9, 25-23) and the Eagles (25-20, 25-23, 25-14) by 3-0 scores to finish off its play at the Emileigh Jo Cooper Memorial Tournament in Rio Grande, Ohio.
With the two wins, Shawnee State improved to 8-3 as a team, continuing to build on its best start since 2021 when the Bears went 8-1 during that season.
Boerger's big day
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Getting additional attempts at the net in Saturday's victories, Shawnee State freshman
Katelynn Boerger enjoyed a big day as the 6-1 freshman dominated play throughout much of both matches.
Boerger ultimately posted 21 kills and an attack percentage of .514 during Saturday's triumphs, helping spearhead Shawnee State's offensive attack throughout much of the day as a result.
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SATURDAY RECAP
Tied at five points apiece in the opening set against West Virginia Tech, Shawnee State ripped off a sizeable 8-0 run that ultimately saw
Brooke Bossert collect two service aces while Boerger,
Camille McIntosh and
Reagan Lewis all obtained a kill in the process in the 25-21 opening set victory. The Bears never trailed in the set.
That momentum only continued in the second set -- as SSU immediately ripped off a massive 20-3 run to begin the second stanza, with Boerger, Lewis and McIntosh each collecting two kills apiece and McIntosh, along with
Hallie Oyer, combining for two blocks with McIntosh adding in her own solo denial later in the set as Shawnee State cruised to a 25-9 second-set triumph.
The third set saw Shawnee State in an unfamiliar position as opposed to the opening pair of sets as SSU trailed West Virginia Tech by a 20-16 margin late in the third set. Undeterred, the Bears rallied as SSU went on a 9-3 run to end the third and final set to make up the four-point decision as Boerger and
Nuria Calvo each posted two kills apiece,
Joey Neal added in a service ace and Boerger and McIntosh combined for a match-ending block to conclude matters in Shawnee State's favor.
Boerger's 14 kills led Shawnee State in the match while McIntosh followed with seven kills on a .267 attack percentage to go along with four total blocks. Calvo (six kills, .250 attack percentage) and
Whytney Faulkner (seven kills) all contributed to the efforts of the frontline.
Reagan Lewis added in 26 assists while
Megan Steele and
Brooke Bossert teamed up to lead the backline, posting 17 and 11 digs respectively.
Against Midway, Shawnee State trailed by a 7-4 margin to begin the opening set, but quickly turned matters around by going on a 15-6 push to take a 19-13 lead. Faulkner and Oyer added in three kills during the opening 32 volleys of play while Boerger contributed two spikes of her own during the same timeframe, helping SSU take a 25-21 win in the opening set.
Shawnee State then ripped off the first seven points in the second set -- as two service aces by Lewis and two kills by Boerger put Shawnee State well out in front once more. Midway rallied to take a brief 15-14 advantage, but Shawnee State responded by taking 10 out of the next 16 volleys with Faulkner adding in three kills and Lewis and Oyer two spikes apiece as the Bears took care of business.
Down 12-10 in the third set, Shawnee State then turned a tight third-set affair into a rout, ultimately winning by a 25-14 count in the final frame to conclude matters.
Faulkner's 11 kills and .474 attack percentage led the Bears while Oyer's eight spikes and a .222 attack percentage followed, as did Boerger's seven pulls. Lewis and
Makaela Lovely combined for 31 assists offensively, while Steele and Lovely combined for 25 digs with Lovely ultimately obtaining a double-double with her 15 assists and 12 digs against Midway.
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