Season of Challenges Continues for Faith Volleyball

Season of Challenges Continues for Faith Volleyball

Team Stats

September 24, 2019

ANKENY, Iowa—A season full of challenges for the Faith volleyball team continued Monday night as their match against Grinnell College, which was supposed to be played on the Eagles' remodeled home court, was moved at the last second to Ankeny Christian Academy due to a slippery playing surface.

The long-awaited "first match" on the new home volleyball court will have to wait a little longer, and so will a return to the win column as the Eagles fell to Grinnell College in three straight sets.

Set One

After falling behind 14-4, the Eagles rallied in one of their more spirited sets of the season, outscoring the talented Pioneers 10-4 to pull within four (18-14). The run was sparked by a trio of kills from Rachel Kleczka, Bekah Smith, and Alicia Smith. Faith stayed within four points the rest of the set before Grinnell closed it out at 25-21.

Set Two

The Eagles used their momentum from the first set to take a quick 4-2 lead, led once again by kills from Kleczka and Bekah Smith, who are becoming a potent 1-2 punch on the front line for Faith. Grinnell responded with a 13-2 run with six kills of their own during that stretch. It was a run that Faith was unable to recover from, losing 25-14.

Set Three

The Pioneers exerted their strength in the third set, wearing down the Eagles with an 8-2 run to end the match. The Eagles were led, overall, by Morgan Stephens with three service aces, Emmy Caves with nine digs, and Bekah Smith with five kills.

Up Next

The Eagles return to action tonight at 6:00 p.m. with a match against Iowa Wesleyan (4-8).