Volleyball Opens Four-Match Homestand
The Westminster women's volleyball team returns to the Behnken Field House this weekend as they open a four-match homestand with two Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matches.  The Griffins host Adams State on Friday at 6 p.m. before facing Fort Lewis on Saturday at 4 p.m.
 
Tickets for all Westminster home matches are now available at WestminsterGriffins.com/tickets.
 
Both matches will be broadcast live on the RMAC Network with David Winkworth calling the action. Live stats will also be available for both matches. Links for all live features can be found at WestminsterGriffins.com/live.
 
About the Griffins
The Griffins returns home at 3-16 overall this season and 1-9 in RMAC play. They snapped a 12-match losing streak with a 3-1 win at South Dakota Mines last Saturday. Westminster is 2-7 at home this season and 0-4 in home RMAC matches.
 
Westminster is 14th in the RMAC by hitting .128 and they average 10.71 kills per set to rank 13th in the conference. They are getting 1.05 service aces per set.
 
Amara Spere leads the Griffins with 212 kills and she ranks ninth in the RMAC by posting 3.37 kills per set. Savannah Ipsen has totaled 112 kills and Desiree Wickwar has added 104 kills. Spere is hitting .193 to lead the team. Amber Lamborn is tops on the team with 14 aces and ranks seventh in the RMAC at 0.70 aces per set.
 
Griffin opponents are hitting .242 on the season, which has the team 14th in the RMAC in opponent hitting percentage. Westminster is seventh in the conference by getting 15.68 digs per set and they rank 13th at 1.58 blocks per set.
 
Hannah Stearman leads the team with 165 digs while Megan Gallegos leads the way at 3.82 digs per set. Ipsen has added 149 digs with Emilie Austin recording 135 digs. Katie Allen leads the team with 40 blocks.
 
Taylor Gustafson has a team-best 429 assists and Austin has 146.
 
Point of Attack
• Amara Spere leads the Griffins with 212 kills and her 3.37 kills per set are ninth in the RMAC. In conference play, Spere is fourth in the conference by averaging 3.72 kills per set. She has been in double figures in kills in seven straight matches and eight of the past nine. Spere has had at least 15 kills in a match five times, including a season-high 22 against UCCS on October 7.
 
Up the Charts
• Spere continues to make her way up the career leaderboards at Westminster and starts the week sixth in team history with 736 kills. She is fifth all-time by hitting .201 for her career and ranks seventh with 182 total blocks. Spere can also be found in the Westminster top-10 in attack attempts, solo blocks, and block assists.
 
Dual Threat
• Savannah Ipsen has become the team's second option at outside hitter and has totaled 112 kills for an average of 1.90 per set. Ipsen is hitting .140 while placing second on the team with 149 digs. Ipsen has recorded at least 10 digs in five matches this season and is getting 3.09 digs per set in conference matches.
 
Seizing the Moment
• Hannah Stearman has taken over the team lead with 165 digs this season and she is averaging 2.80 digs per set. She has recorded double-digit digs in five straight matches and six of the last seven outings. In seven matches since taking over as the starting libero, Stearman is averaging 4.26 digs per set and she had a career-high 21 against UCCS on October 7.
 
Set the Offense
• Taylor Gustafson has been the Griffins primary setter this season and she currently leads the team with 429 assists. Gustafson averages 6.92 assists per set and she has led the team in assists during 17 matches. She also averages 1.90 digs per set and has four double-doubles.
 
Match Facts: Adams State
• Westminster and Adams State are tied 1-1 in two all-time meetings.
• The Grizzlies defeated the Griffins in five sets last season in Alamosa.
• ASU starts the week at 11-9 overall and 6-5 in the conference.
• Mallory Grimsrud averages 3.48 kills per set to rank eighth in the RMAC.
 
Match Facts: Fort Lewis
• Fort Lewis leads the all-time series 1-0.
• The Skyhawks swept the Griffins in Durango last season.
• FLC is currently 4-15 overall and 3-8 in RMAC play.
• Ally Dell'Amico is fifth in the RMAC at 4.95 digs per set.
 
Looking Ahead
• Westminster remains at home next weekend to host a pair of conference matches. They face Colorado Mesa on October 28 and then play Western State Colorado on October 29. Tickets for both matches are available at WestminsterGriffins.com/tickets.