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36th Annual Graceland Pizza Shack Invitational |
September 8, 2007
Lamoni, IA- Graceland Women's Volleyball hosted its 36th Annual Pizza Shack Invitational this weekend. Teams from around the nation were represented in one of the biggest tournaments for NAIA women's volleyball fo far this season. Teams included: Graceland University ( IA), #4 Dickinson State University (ND), Missouri Baptist University (MO), Olivet Nazarene University (IL), #8 Westminster University (UT), University of Michigan-Dearborn (MI), #17 Columbia College (MO),#6 National American University (SD), Concordia University (NE), Indiana Wesleyan University (IN), Culver-Stockton College (MO), #9 Hastings College (NE), William Penn University (IA), #13 Lindenwood University (MO), and Trinity International University (IL). Three of the other teams, Concordia, Missouri Baptist, and Indiana Wesleyan, received votes for the Top 25 as well.
The Yellowjackets took to the court for their first game on Friday facing #8 Westminster (UT). It was a tough first match for the Lady Yellowjackets but the Yellowjackets played tough through the first game of the match and fell 27-30. They dropped off in the second 20-30, and came back in the third game to a close 27-30 finish, losing the match 0-3. The team showed resilience while facing this nationally ranked team. Mackenzie Fix (Ridgefield, WA) led the team with 2.3 kills/game. Camille Soto (Oxnard, CA) led the team in assists with 4.0 assists/g followed by Stephanie Hamann (St. Joseph, MO) with 3.3 assists/g. Kristin Tanabe (Honolulu, HI), Larissa Portillo (Las Vegas, NV), and Hamann tied with 2.67 digs/g. Jenny Stone (KS) led team in blocks with 5 assisted blocks.
In Friday’s second match the Yellowjackets faced the University of Michigan-Dearborn who has competed in the tournament for many years. UM-Dearborn has always been tough competition and would not be easily beat. The Yellowjackets teeter-tottered through five games before defeating UM-Dearborn 27-30, 30-24, 16-30, 30-27, 15-10. Stone led the team with 2.6 kills/g and 5 assisted blocks. Hamann had 4.6 assists/g, and Tanabe had 8.2 digs/g.
On Saturday the Yellowjackets opened up the day against Concordia University (NE). The game started at a slow pace as both teams struggle to gain control in the match. The Yellowjackets fought hard but could not score the few points needed in each game to win and ended up with a first match loss for the day by the falling to Concordia 26-30, 24-30, 28-30. Stat leaders included Maranda Miller (Holden, MO) with 3 kills/g, Hamann with 4 assists/g, and Soto a close second with 3.67 assists/g. Tanabe finished with 3.66 digs/g, and Stone with 2.33 blocks/g.
The Yellowjackets ended the tournament by playing William Penn University (IA). Graceland did not let up the entire game, playing relentlessly to avenge an early season loss to Penn. The ladies played with vigor, enjoying their best match of the weekend. The match ended with Graceland victorious 30-21, 30-26, 30-21. Match leaders were Jana Marler (Independence, MO) with 2.33 kills/g, Soto with 5.67 assists/g, Tanabe with 7.33 digs/g, and Stone with 2 blocks/g.
After all was said and done, Graceland felt good about their weekend and the competition experience they had gained. Graceland, unranked in the latest NAIA polls, had “nothing to lose,” Head Coach Stew McDole said. On the weekend the Yellowjackets went 2-2 and came away with reasons to hope for good things to come throughout the rest of the season. Graceland’s overall season record stands at 6-5 (0-0 HAAC) and head to play Grand View College in Des Moines, IA coming up on Monday, September 10, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
For More Information on Graceland University Athletics Contact:
Matt Shelton, Sports Information Director
(641) 784-5318
mshelton@graceland.edu
Matt Shelton, Sports Information Director
641.784.5318
mshelton@graceland.edu
