[Volleyball] Career performances fuel Volleyball Falcons' win over Eutectics to finish perfect ...

WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons finished their weekend Freddy Spikefest with a perfect 3-0 mark after defeating the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy Eutectics 3-1 today (Oct. 1) inside the Garvey Center.

The Falcons came out blazing, scoring the first five points of the match on the way to a convincing 25-12 win in the opening set that featured a robust .500 hitting percentage.

The second set appeared on track to finish much like the first, as the Falcons jumped out to a quick 9-5 lead.

But UHSP battled back with an 11-3 burst to take a 16-12 edge and hung on 25-23 to even the match at a set apiece.

The Falcons again came out strong in the third set, getting a pair of kills from Cajia Crawford (SR/Wichita, Kan.) for a 10-5 edge.

After the Eutectics responded and evened the set 13-13, two more kills from Crawford helped the Falcons jump back in front again by five at 20-15.

With the back-and-forth set continuing at 22-22, back-to-back kills from Sarah Lazar (SR/Rose Hill, Kan. ) emphatically closed out the frame 25-22 and put the Falcons back on top.

The fourth set played out close throughout and the Falcons found themselves in danger of being forced to play a decisive fifth stanza after the Eutectics moved in front 20-16.

But two kills from Lazar and Grace McClintock (FR/Woodland Park, Colo. ) sparked a 9-2 finish and it was a kill from McClintock that closed out the victory 25-23.

Anchoring the Falcons' big victory today was career performances from Lazar, Maddy Strecker (SO/Hutchinson, Kan. ), Antonia Perier (SO/Bakersfield, Calif.) and Crawford. 

For the second consecutive day, Lazar equaled her career-high of 25 kills.  Strecker delivered a career-best 38 assists just one day after setting a new benchmark with 37 assists in the win over York University.  Perier recorded 39 digs, the third most of her career, while Crawford set a season-high and equaled her career-best mark with 17 kills for the Falcons (7-15).

Additionally, that wasn't the only new career-highs reached, as Zoey Tauanu'u (SO/Wichita, Kan.) tallied a career-best 17 assists in her first year with the program. Strecker also reached 11 digs, just one shy of her career-best number. Rachel Taylor (SR/Hays, Kan. ) also produced double-digit digs with 12 on the day.

Colleen Cockrell led the Eutectics (6-14) with 11 kills and Jenna Brinson had a match-high 40 assists. Kathryn Trickey paced UHSP with 25 digs.

The Falcons will look to extend their season-high winning streak at home vs. Bethany College Wednesday night (Oct. 5) starting at 7 pm inside the Garvey Center.

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