ELMHURST, Ill. – After dropping their season opener to host Elmhurst College, the Stars rebounded to win each of their next nine sets to start the 2011 season with a 3-1 record.  The Stars defeated Beloit College, Adrian College, and Lake Forest College in three sets apiece to finish up the invitational and first weekend of play.

In the match against Elmhurst, the Stars fell 14-25, 13-25, and 18-25 in three sets.  But they quickly rebounded against Beloit, winning in three sets with scores of 25-15, 25-17, and 25-17. 

“In the first match the girls came out timid and a bit unfocused,” said head coach Ryan Baumgartner. “After they calmed down they looked like a totally different team.”

The Stars stayed hot in day two of the invitational, taking on Adrian College in their first match of the day.  Junior setter Jess Guerrieri (Plainfield, Ill./North), recorded a double-double in the match, leading the offensive attack by dishing out 30 assists, and contributing defensively with 10 digs.  Junior outside hitter Jacy Lawrence (St. Louis, Mo./Villa Duchesne) and sophomore outside hitter Claire Dezelski (Northville, Mich./Ladywood) chipped in offensively with 11 and eight kills, respectively.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Stars combined for nine team blocks, supported by junior libero Liz Yakey’s (Sun Prairie, Wis.), team-high 12 digs.

In game two versus Lake Forest, Lawrence again led the Stars in kills, connecting on 15 of her 36 attempts for a .333 hitting percentage.  She helped control the net defensively as well, as she recorded two solo blocks in the match. 

Dezelski had a nice all-around game, recording three service aces, nine kills, and eight digs, while Guerrieri and Yakey led the team in assists (24) and digs (11), respectively.

“When we are focused and playing confident we are a very tough team,” comments Coach Baumgartner. “I was very excited to see them play at a high level; it was as good as I have seen some of the girls play.”

The Stars are next in action at the Molten Volleyball Classic in Colorado Springs, Colo., next Friday and Saturday.