Eagles Win Monday Night Thriller

By Jon Crossman 

DUBUQUE, Iowa – The ladies are back on the path of their winning ways, finishing out a thrilling Monday night game in Dubuque to start their second winning streak of the season. Even with the close game, the Eagles held to the killer instinct they've carried in four out of six of their victories, closing out their opponents in just three sets.

Consistency is key on any winning team, and if there's one thing that's consistent with the lady Eagles, it's their fight to finish in every game. Adrenaline was high in all three sets, with a stellar competitive burst from the Emmaus girls in a determined effort of their own. Faith won the first and third set by a tight margin of two points, clawing back in an epic comeback in the first set to establish the nail-biting tone for the rest of the game. Emmaus faltered in the front row with the second set, letting hits squeak by to yield a less stressful 25-14 set victory to the Faith squad. This game marks the highest scoring game of the season for the Eagles, with the 28-26 final set score in an action-packed match.

With as close a game as it was for the ladies, many game-saving performances came out of the Eagles' lineup. Audrey Holbert and Morgan Stephens both helped fuel multiple comeback efforts with 24 combined digs, and Makenna Laib pitched in too with her crucial 26 assists. Rachel Kleczka played her role as the offensive catalyst perfectly in the epic 10-point comeback of the first set, connecting on 13 kills and recording the sole block of the game for the Eagles. As the ladies continue to foster the 'never give up' attitude in the season, this game served as good evidence of the upward progress they are making in both mental and physical grit.

The Eagles hit the road next for a rematch against Oak Hills Christian College, on October 1, starting at 5:00 PM.