Hamline University Athletics

It's amazing what a bout of good health can do for a person. Just ask Hamline volleyballer Michelle Mattke. The start of her senior season was slowed by recovery from back surgery in the summer. Then she developed a stress fracture that kept her out of more matches. But she has fought through all that and the Owatonna, Minn. native was at the top of her game with a season high effort of 13 kills and 17 digs in a 3-1 win over Simpson in a match held in St. Peter, Minn. last Saturday. 

It marked the second time this year Mattke had registered in double digits for kills and digs. And it may have come just in time as the Pipers start the final two weeks of the regular season hoping to put together a run to get back over the .500 mark and have a shot at the MIAC postseason. 

HU is currently 10-12 overall and 2-5 in the MIAC. But their four league matches left include two against teams ahead of them in the standings. It starts Wednesday with a matchup at 4-4 Augsburg. HU will face St. Olaf (0-7) Saturday in their final home match of the year. Next week, they finish at Gustavus Adolphus (7-0) and St. Catherine (2-6).