Jean Theis (Shakopee, MN, Shakopee) led the Falcon volleyball team to two thrilling victories in the final day of the UW-Whitewater Invite.  In the first match the Falcons defeated Edgewood College 3-2.  They followed that match with a back-and-forth 3-2 victory over Illinois Wesleyan to finish the invite with a 2-1 record.

Theis led the Falcon offense against Edgewood with a season's best 21 kills.  In the match, UWRF took a 2-0 lead, before Edgewood came back to win the next two sets.  UWRF however, was able to finish the close contest with a dramatic 15-12 victory in the final set.

Game scores against Edgewood were 25-20, 25-21, 25-21, 25-17 and 15-12.

Erin Green (Fridley, MN, Fridley) added 14 kills and Brianna Muetzel (Oakdale, MN, Cretin-Derham Hall) 10 for a potent Falcon offense that hit .240 throughout the match. Mackenzie Suda (Ham Lake, MN, Blaine) had 56 set assists and 12 digs for an all-around performance.  The Falcon defense was very balanced as they had 90 digs.  Courtney Preiner (Oakdale, MN, Hill-Murray) led the way with 24, followed by Kadie Brooks (St. Charles, IL, East) who had a career-high 17. Danielle Gibbemeyer (St. Paul, MN, Cretin-Derham Hall) and Suda added 12 and Schmitman 10, making it five Falcons with double-digit digs.

The second match of the day against Illinois Wesleyan was also a thriller. UWRF again took the first two sets before Illinois Wesleyan came back to take the next two.  But for the second time in as many matches, the Falcons were able to deliver the knock-out punch with a 15-12 victory in the final set.

Game scores were 26-24, 25-23, 22-25, 21-25 and 15-12.

The Falcon offense remained on fire, and so did Theis as she and Green led the Falcons with 16 kills apiece.  Kaylee Jacobs (Glenwood, MN, Minnewaska) added 11 of UWRF's 62 kills.  As a team, the Falcons hit a solid .255.  Suda had an assist for 58 of those kills.

Preiner added 21 digs to help the Falcons improve to 21-10 on the season.

The Falcons will return to action as they travel back to Whitewater on Friday, Oct. 26 for a WIAC matchup against UW-Whitewater.  The match is set to get underway at 7 p.m.

Edgewood Box Score
Illinois Wesleyan Box Score