The Creighton volleyball team improved to 5-0 in conference play this season with a 3-1 win over Illinois State University, and a sweep of Indiana State.
Creighton’s hot start in Missouri Valley play has improved its overall record to 10-7.
Last weekend’s wins gave the Jays more confidence as they head to play traditional Valley powers Wichita State University and Missouri State University on the road
next weekend.
The Jays’ Sept. 30 victory against Illinois State gave Creighton head coach Kristen Bernthal Booth her 150th career win. Booth, she said while pleased with her team’s efforts, still believes this team has much more potential.
“We’ve talked about it all along,” Booth said. “We have to get better each match. We still have a long way to go, but we are in the position we want to be in.”
Against Illinois State, freshman right side hitter Leah McNary took advantage of her athleticism to record a career-high 16 kills as the Jays won three out of four matches with the Redbirds by scores of 25-18, 26-24, 24-26and 25-20.
McNary’s fellow freshman setter Michelle Sicner recorded 27 assists and 20 digs, making her only the fifth player in Creighton history with at least 20 assists and 20 digs in the
same match.
After Friday’s handling of Illinois State, the Jays turned their attention to the Sycamores of Indiana State.
The Jays handled Illinois State University without much problem on Oct. 1, winning their matches by scores of 25-23, 25-12 and 25-10.
The Jays’ defense stepped up in large part due to the play of junior setter Megan Bober and sophomore libero Julianne Mandolfo, whose 27 digs were tied for second-most in CU history for a three-set match.
The Jays also held the Sycamores to .033 hitting with 26 kills, two aces, 57 digs and three blocks.
On the other side of the net, the Jays had 43 kills, six aces, 65 digs and 10 blocks while hitting .287.
“We faced two really solid teams, two scrappy defensive teams, and it was important that we come out on our home court and get both wins and a lot of confidence going into the next stretch we have,” Bober said.