The Dominican University women's volleyball team closed out play at the Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic, sweeping a pair of matches from Northland College (25-15, 25-7, 25-13) and Augustana College (25-23, 25-18, 25-20) to finish 3-1 on the weekend. The Stars served up 21 aces in Saturday's victories, finishing the weekend with 32 aces to 24 errors.
"We were able to put together two really good, complete matches today," said head coach Cameron Andrew following the Dominican sweeps. "We got great contributions from everyone against Northland and the team did a great job keeping the intensity level high and focusing on execution. Augustana was our best match so far in this young season. Our defense once again set the tone—focusing on relentless defensive intensity. We really take pride in our defense."
The Stars hit a robust .247 in the win over Northland, paced by #Olivia Magnussen# who collected seven kills on 12 attacks while committing just two errors to hit .417. Freshman #Gabija Sinickaite# continued her torrid start to the season, knocking down five kills while #Katelyn Flayter# and #Amanda Ricca# added three kills apiece. At the service line, the Stars picked up 11 acces. Freshman #Sarah Lychock# notched four aces while #Anastasia Labadessa# and #Megan Parker# added three apiece.
Defensively, the Stars dominated the Lumber Jills, holding Northland to a -.077 attack percentage with just 16 kills to 23 errors on 91 attacks. The Dominican back row, paced by Parker and Lychock, tallied 50 digs in the three-set win. Parker and Lychock collected eight digs apiece while Summer Smith picked up seven. At the net, Magnussen and #Stephanie Cole# posted two blocks apiece as the Stars combined for four total blocks.
In the Stars' tournament finale, sophomore #Gillian Jones# caught fire, knocking down 15 kills on 40 swings. Sinickaite added nine kills on 19 attempts without committing an error as Dominican posted a .206 attack percentage in the winning effort.
Labadessa, the Stars' sophomore setter, collected 34 assists in the match, finishing with 104 assists on the weekend to earn All-Tournament honors.
"I'm really proud of everything we did this weekend," said Andrew, reflecting on his team's opening weekend performance. "This was a great step forward for the team and puts in a great position to take another step this coming week."
Dominican will hit the road on Tuesday, traveling to DePere, Wisconsin, for a non-conference tilt with the St. Norbert College Green Knights before heading to Dubuque, Iowa, next weekend for four matches in the Loras Invitational.
