SAINT PETER, MINN.—Senior libreo/defensive specialist Jenna Rubbelke became the second individual in program history to eclipse 2,000 career digs in the Hamline University women's volleyball team's 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 28-26) loss at No. 25 Gustavus Adolphus on Saturday night. Rubbelke, who finished tonight's match with 18 digs, has 2,017 for her career and needs 18 more to break Heidi Larsen's (2007-2010) program record of 2,034.
The Pipers fall to 8-12, 1-4 MIAC, while the nationally-ranked Gusties improve to 12-9, 5-0 MIAC.
Gustavus 3, Hamline 0 (25-19, 25-23, 28-26)
A whopping six lead changes and nine tied scores occurred in the opening frame. A well-balanced attack that saw six individuals contribute kills en route to a .184 hitting percentage from the Gusties, coupled with a combined 11 errors from the Pipers was the difference in their 25-19 loss in set one.
Both teams combined to hit .231 in the second set, where the score read 23-23 after things were tied on 10 separate occasions. Lauren Klaith, who finished the match with a game-high 14 kills, put Gustavus in front for good 24-23 with a kill before a Piper attack error sealed them a 25-23 win.
Hamline didn't quit in the third set, where they jumped to a 7-3 lead thanks to four Gusties attack errors, two kills and one ace from Lindsay Eckelman. It was an advantage they held onto until Gustavus knotted the set at 9-9 courtesy of three Hamline errors. Three lead changes took place from that point forward.
A 6-0 Gustavus run that consisted of four Piper errors gave them their first advantage of the match at 19-15. Two kills apiece from Grace Bathurst, Lauren Wilborn, and Riley Melby engineered a Pipers squad that grabbed 23-22, 24-23, and 25-24 advantages. The Gusties iced the match with a 4-1 run that included three kills, which gave them a 28-26 win.
Hamline, who hit .114 in the match, were led by Lauren Wilborn's double double 10 kills, 10 digs, and two aces. Seven Pipers dished assists, led by Kaitlyn Kotek's 14. Riley Melby and Lindsay Eckelman, who each had four assisted blocks, finished with seven and five kills, respectively. Bathurst also had seven kills.
Klaith paced Gustavus with a game-high 14 kills, while Maren Sundberg had 20 digs.
The Pipers will host Augsburg at Hutton Arena on Wednesday, October 16 at 7 p.m.
