MISHAWAKA, Ind. – Down two sets, the Mount Vernon Nazarene University women’s volleyball team battled back to send its match against Bethel to a fifth set. But the host Pilots ultimately rallied back to beat the Cougars 25-21, 25-21, 25-27, 16-25, 15-12 in a Crossroads League quarterfinal on Nov. 10 in Mishawaka, Ind.
Nicole Winkler had a career match to lead sixth-seeded MVNU. She had 23 kills and 19 digs— both career highs– to lead the Cougars (6-8). She also had a team-high four assisted blocks.
Winkler and Paige Brenner had a pair of kills each to help MVNU battle back down the stretch from a 22-18 deficit in the third set. Brenner’s second kill gave the Cougars a 26-25 lead, then she assisted on a Mary Kate Harmody kill to clinch the set.
The serve was a big key during a 16-3 run to help MVNU take control in the fourth. Ellie Ruby, who led MVNU with a career-high 42 digs, served up three of her game-high four aces; and Winkler added two more during the rally. Winkler finished with three aces overall.
Winkler had three kills, and Tory Small added two more as MVNU built a five-point lead on three occasions in the fifth set, including a 12-7 advantage.
But the third-seeded Pilots (15-3) scored the final eight points of the frame to clinch the match. Abby Arnold had a pair of kills and an assisted block to highlight the rally for Bethel.
Small had 10 kills for the match and Ashley Stumperth added eight. Brenner finished with 50 assists and 16 digs, Molly Galaszewski had 17 digs and Harmody assisted on three blocks for the Cougars.
Isabelle North had 17 kills; Maddy Payne added 12 kills, a block and six assisted blocks; Payton Hart contributed 25 digs and 10 kills; Madyson Beaver dished out 30 assists along with 19 digs and Jackie Fernandez had 43 digs to pace the Pilots.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
INDIANAPOLIS – Sarah Townsend’s goal late in the first half tied the score for MVNU. But top-seeded Marian rallied for three consecutive second-half goals to beat the Cougars 4-2 in a Crossroads League semifinal on Nov. 11 in Indianapolis.
Townsend’s unassisted goal came in the 38th minute to tie the game at 1-1 for the fifth-seeded Cougars (6-5-2), after an Allie Schlom goal staked the Knights to an early 1-0 lead.
Schlom scored her second goal in the 50th minute to put Marian back on top. It also was unassisted.
Jacelyn Smith and Greer Glover scored goals within 21 seconds of each other in the 76th minute to put the game out of reach. Isabelle Stanfield assisted on the first and Smith assisted on Glover’s goal.
MVNU’s Sarah Guipe scored off a Melanie Critzer feed in the 83rd minute to round out the scoring.
Lilly Jakuszewski stopped four shots in goal for the Cougars, and Noelle Rolfsen had three saves for the Knights (13-1).
BASKETBALL
MOUNT VERNON – The MVNU Athletic Department announced the postponement of several men’s and women’s basketball games, citing COVID-19.
The women’s team has nixed games against Cornerstone University on Nov. 14 and West Virginia Institute of Technology on Nov. 18, both scheduled to be played at Ariel Arena.
Crossroads League games at Grace College and home against Saint Francis have also been postponed.
The women’s team has already had games against Indiana University Kokomo on Nov. 7 and Madonna on Nov. 11— both away contests— called off.
The men’s team has had games against Madonna (Nov. 14), West Virginia Institute of Technology (Nov. 17) and a Crossroads League opener against Grace (Nov. 21)— all scheduled for Ariel Arena— as well as a road Crossroads League contest against Saint Francis (Nov. 24) postponed as well.
Reschedule dates have not been announced.
Both teams return to action in a doubleheader at Ariel Arena on Nov. 27. The women’s team hosts Lindsey Wilson at 5 p.m. with the men’s team following against Reinhardt.
