Aurora, Ill. - The Illinois Tech women's volleyball team was on the road Wednesday, September 20, as they took on the Aurora University Spartans in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) match-up. The Hawks (2-10, 1-1) would pick up a set three victory to force the match to continue, but would ultimately drop set four and fall 3-1 to the Spartans (7-6, 2-0)

How It Happened

Set One - Spartans 25, Hawks 14

• For the entirety of the first set, the Spartans would lead the Hawks as they would take set one 25-14. The Spartans controlled the set offensively, not allowing the Hawks to get in any rhythm. 

Set Two - Spartans 25, Hawks 23

• The second set would go on to be a closer battle between the two sides before the Spartans pulled away with a 25-23 set victory. Early on in the set, the two sides would be tied at 5-5 before the Hawks took a 8-6 lead. The Hawks remained ahead until the Spartans tied the set back up at 13-13. After a quick back-and-forth made the set 14-14, the Spartans went on a 6-0 run to take the lead. The Hawks fought to come back within reach, but it proved to be too late as they dropped set two. 

Set Three - Hawks 25, Spartans 23

• In set three, the Hawks were able to turn the match around to gain a point as they won the set 25-23. From the very beginning of the set, the two sides would go back and forth with multiple ties and lead changes. The last tie would come at 23-23 before the Hawks secured back-to-back points with a kill by Emily Graham followed by blocks from Sasami Cavan and Karla Trautman Mendez to secure a 25-24 set three victory. 

Set Four - Spartans  25, Hawks 18

• The start of set four would begin in favor of the Hawks before the Spartans took over offensively. A 5-0 run in the middle of the set turned the set in favor of the Spartans, eventually leading to a 25-18 set four victory, giving them the 3-1 match victory. 

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Kelsey Starnes - 3 aces, 19 digs, 3 assists

• Victoria Vann - 10 kills

• Karla Trautmann Mendez - 3 blocks

• Sasami Cavan - 27 assists

Spartans Standouts

• Kate Poellmann - 19 kills

• Dani Lauer - 4 aces, 4 blocks, 13 digs

• Riley Moreno - 6 blocks

• Hannah Joseph - 48 assists, 

• Hannah Evenson - 18 digs, 2 assists, 2 aces

Inside the Box Score

• In kills and assists, the Spartans led 50-41 over the Hawks

• The Spartans edged out the Hawks in digs 64-57

Up Next

On Friday, September 22, the Hawks will travel to Lake Forest, Ill. to take on the Lake Forest College Foresters in non-conference action. First serve is scheduled for 6:00 PM.