GREENVILLE, Ill. - The women's volleyball team won their eighth of the last nine SLIAC regular season championships with a five set victory over Fontbonne on Friday night. Before the match, Greenville honored their departing seniors - Whitney Nichols and Jessica Booker - for their dedication to the volleyball program.
When the match started, the Panthers looked sluggish, dropping the first set 23-25. Fontbonne secured six of the first seven points and five of the last seven points for the opening set win.
The first set loss jumpstarted the Panther attack as they dominated the second set 25-13.
The third set went to Fontbonne 25-21, but the Panthers changed the momentum of the match when they faced set point at 24-12 but rattled off nine straight points before falling 25-21.
In the fourth set, GU faced a 23-21 deficit before reeling off four straight points to force the match to a fifth set.
Greenville dominated Fontbonne in the final set, taking the match with a 15-5 tiebreaking set.
Abby Freeman had an outstanding night for the Panthers as she nearly tied the program record of 31 kills by finishing with 30 kills in the match. She ended with 34 points as she added three service aces and two block assists.
Allyson Grabowski provided a defensive effort that accounted for 17 digs.
Maci Bonacorsi added three service aces and tied Emily Stahl for the team-high with four block assists.
The Panthers (21-9, 16-2 SLIAC) will face Washington-St. Louis on Tuesday night before the SLIAC tournament occurs on Saturday, Nov. 3, at Webster. The 2018 women's volleyball team joins the 2010-16 Panthers as SLIAC league champions.