The DePauw women’s volleyball team secured a win against the Franklin College Grizzlies this past Tuesday, Sept. 6. Beginning the week with a 2-2 record, the Tigers ended the game in two matches and won Coach Deb Zellers her 600th win, according to the DePauw Tigers Instagram. DePauw volleyball will now head into their next games with three wins under their belt.
DePauw’s Avery Christy, a junior setter, sent the first serve of the game over the net. Franklin managed to snag the first point, but DePauw quickly took the lead with a series of aggressive spikes by sophomore outside hitter Katie Gansle. The majority of the first match was served by DePauw, with a series of tips, blocks, and spikes earning the team points. As the Tigers neared the 25-point mark, the crowd became tense with anticipation of the win. When the referee gave Franklin the point after DePauw saved the ball, boos could be heard from DePauw’s crowd. Regardless of this apparent miscall, the Tigers still won the match, beating Franklin by four points.
The second match began with a serve from Franklin senior Billie Jarrett; Grizzlies soon took the first point of the match when DePauw hit the ball out. An impressive spike by sophomore opposite hitter Olivia Karwin, followed by a block of Franklin’s volley, won DePauw another point. First-year setter Kendall Herrick played an especially spectacular match, setting up perfect spikes for her teammates and confusing the Grizzlies with sly tips. The Franklin Grizzlies struggled to volley sophomore middle hitter Ashley Haas’ driving spikes.
Although the second match remained somewhat close, DePauw began to wrap up the match with more impressive tips and spikes by Haas. The Grizzlies called a timeout as the crowd’s energy rose. As the game resumed, senior outside hitter Jessica Levy hit a spike, earning the Tigers the next point. Levy and junior middle hitter Lauren Ridgway blocked Franklin’s attempts to score, holding the Grizzlies at bay. In the final minute of the second match, Franklin fumbled its last chances to win, unable to handle DePauw’s spikes and handing the Tigers the match. The final match concluded at 25-15, with the victory going to DePauw.
DePauw’s next home volleyball game will be held on Sept. 24 at 11:00 a.m. against Oberlin.