Stella Anderson-
Gustavus Homecoming highlights the athletic prowess of all campus athletics, but the Gustavus Volleyball team stood out with a shining performance against Hamline this weekend. Family and fans poured into the stands on the Gus Young court to cheer. With a record of 11-8 heading into the match and 4-0 in the conference, the team was looking to add another win to cement their dominance in the MIAC. The Gustavus women went back and forth within the sets, but pulled away from the Pipers with a decisive 3-0 win, remaining undefeated in MIAC.
Gustavus took to the court with the momentum of a successful season behind them, but the Hamline team was determined to make their mark. Gustavus scored the first point of the game, however, the Pipers quickly rose to a leading score of 5-2. The Gusties stood their ground; after tying the points up to 7-7, Sophomore Sophia Deyak helped the Gusties reclaim the lead with a kill. The game stayed close until the Gusties and Pipers were tied at 18 points, tensions building both on the court and in the crowd. The Gustavus Women scored an additional 7 points to win the first match 25-19 against the Pipers.
Hamline was not to be deterred so easily, coming back with a vengeance in the second set. The set started out with the Pipers up 3-0. Gustavus slowly chipped away at Hamline’s slight lead until the score was once again tied. Points were exchanged back and forth throughout the match. The Gusties showcased their resilience, never letting Hamline get more than 2 points ahead. The Pipers were not willing to relinquish their hope to win, surging forward late in the set with a consecutive 5 points in an attempt to retake this critical set. Both teams sat at 23 points, they both knew these next points would determine this set. Fifth-year Lauren Klaith aided the team to a set win of 25-23 with a kill.
An intense third set began, Hamline knowing they could not afford a loss in this one or it would be game over. Starting off strong, the Pipers took the lead for more than half the set. The Gusties did not ease up either, trailing behind with a margin of a few points. At 15 points, Junior Sydney Timm got a kill that tied the teams. Gustavus took the lead and charged forward without looking back. Hamline, desperate to hang on to hope, stayed close to the Gusties, overtaking them at 24 points. In a tight and heated game, Gustavus showed grit during this final stretch showdown. Trading points back and forth, the Gusties left it all on the court, with game-deciding kills from Deyak and Junior Leah Berg to win the set 28-26. The Gustavus Women secured an absolute shutout game, not letting Hamline earn a singular win. The competitive spirit is a testament to their hard work and passion. Both the team and the supporters celebrated the victory as they furthered their undefeated record within the conference.
Deyak stood out on the court, with 12 kills and 4 blocks that were essential to the team’s win. Motivation is essential to being an outstanding athlete like herself, and when asked what helps her preserve on the court, she responded that it is “[The] great energy. Everyone on the team has each other’s back and we believe in each other fully!”
Junior Maren Sundberg had an incredible game featuring 20 digs. Her performance earned her the title of the MIAC Volleyball Athlete of the Week. Reflecting on the game and how the team will move forward in the season, she is “very proud of the team for battling through some adversity earlier on in the season and not letting the past affect how we play in the present. We’ve shown a lot of resilience so far and we keep getting better as the season progresses. I’m confident that we can continue to be undefeated in conference and I’m excited to keep getting opportunities to play conference games.”
The Gustavus Women’s Volleyball Team will travel to face Concordia on Oct. 16th at 7:00 p.m. The team will be searching for another conference win to keep their undefeated streak alive. Tune in online to receive live updates and cheer your fellow Gusties on as they continue their march of dominance!