The Creighton women’s volleyball team saw their season officially come to an end last Thursday with an opening-round loss to Illinois State in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
The Redbirds defeated the Bluejays in four sets 25-23, 23-25, 25-16 and 25-15 as they came into the match having lost five straight.
Creighton finished the match with 48 kills, three aces, 71 digs and 13 blocks while hitting .128.
“I really enjoyed the group,” said Creighton head coach Kristen Bernthal Booth. “You always think of your seniors and what they bring to the program, and we’re losing two great seniors in Laurel Sanford and Karisa Almgren. I feel badly for them. Losing is always really, really hard, but I hate for the seniors to go out on a match like this.”
Despite the season-ending loss, the Jays still finished with a winning record of 17-14 after beginning the season 2-6. They will have a multitude of positive notes on which to build their success for next season.
The program will lose All-Missouri Valley Conference middle blocker Laurel Sanford to graduation, as well as right side/ outside hitter Karissa Almgren, who earned All-Tourney honors at the conference tournament. The two seniors were extremely valuable, but the good news is that these two are the only players the Bluejays will lose for next season.
Sophomore defensive specialist Julianne Mandolfo was named Missouri Valley Libero of the Year, while also joining Sanford and junior setter Megan Bober as first-team All-Valley choices. Freshmen right side/ outside hitter Leah McNary and setter Michelle Sicner were also voted onto the Missouri Valley All-Freshman Team, with Northern Iowa’s Bre Payton being named Player of the Year in the Missouri Valley.
Mandolfo led the conference in digs per set at 5.96–which was also good for fifth nationally in the category. Her 674 digs is a Creighton single-season record and is also good for third-most in conference history.
Bober is the Missouri Valley all-time leader in triple-doubles after recording an impressive nine of them throughout the season. Junior middle blocker Heather Thorson also played a pivotal role this season, finishing second on the team in blocks per set.
Northern Iowa won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and head into the NCAA Tournament with only loss on their record and a very talented player in Payton that could potentially take them deep into the postseason.