Volleyball Set for Two Home Matches
The Westminster women's volleyball team returns to the Behnken Field House this weekend as they host a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matches. The Griffins face UCCS on Friday at 6 p.m. before welcoming MSU Denver to town on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Both of this week's matches will be carried live on the RMAC Network with David Winkworth calling the action. The RMAC Network is available online at
RMACsports.tv. There will also be live stats available during each contest. Links for all live features can be found at
WestminsterGriffins.com/live.
Tickets for the two matches are now available at
WestminsterGriffins.com/tickets.
About the Griffins
The Griffins start the week at 2-13 overall and 0-6 in the conference. They have dropped nine straight matches and 25 consecutive sets. The team is 2-5 at home on the year and 0-2 in home conference matches.
Westminster is hitting .119 as a team while averaging 10.43 kills per set. They average 1.08 service aces and get 14.98 digs per set. Opponents are hitting .247 against the team while the Griffins get 1.61 blocks per set.
Amara Spere leads the Griffins with 144 kills – 2.94 kills per set – and she is second on the team with 10 service aces.
Savannah Ipsen has recorded 84 kills and 11 digs.
Desiree Wickwar leads all Griffins with her .177 hitting efficiency.
Taylor Gustafson has a team-best 299 assists and
Emilie Austin has 144.
Amber Lamborn has a team-best 13 aces and ranks fourth in the RMAC at 0.33 per set.
Megan Gallegos leads all Griffins with 149 digs and
Katie Allen has a team-high 35 blocks.
Point of Attack
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Amara Spere leads the team in kills and is second in blocks and acesentering play this week. The junior has been in double figures in kills during eight matches and has led the team in kills 11 times. Spere had a career high six aces against Texas A&M international on September 9.
Up the Charts
• Spere continues to make her way up the career leaderboards at Westminster and starts the week seventh in team history with 668 kills. She is sixth all-time by hitting .194 for her career and ranks seventh with 176 total blocks. Spere can also be found in the Westminster top-10 in attack attempts, solo blocks, and block assists.
Dual Threat
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Savannah Ipsen has become the team's second option at outside hitter and has totaled 84 kills for an average of 1.84 per set. Ipsen is hitting .138 while placing second on the team with 11 digs. Ipsen has recorded double-digit digs three times this season with one double-double.
Last Line of Defense
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Megan Gallegos continue to provide the team with excellence at the libero position as the junior is averaging 3.82 digs per set this season. Gallegos has been in double figures in digs eight times and she had a season-high 21 against Fort Hays State. She begins the week with 914 career digs to rank fifth in team history.
Set the Offense
• With Westminster primarily running a 6-2 offense,
Taylor Gustafson leads the team with an average of 6.23 assists per set. Gustafson has led the team in assists during 13 matches this season and currently ranks third in school history with 1,702 career assists. She has also averages 1.77 digs per set this season and has recorded two double-doubles.
Match Facts: UCCS
• UCCS is 2-0 all-time against the Griffins.
• The Mountain Lions won both matches last season, including a five-set win in SLC.
• UCCS is 8-7 overall this season and 3-4 in the RMAC.
• Alyssa Brinton averages 3.82 kills per set to rank fourth in the conference.
Match Facts: MSU Denver
• MSU Denver leads the all-time series 2-0.
• The Roadrunners won both matches last season with a four-set win in the Behnken Field House.
• MSUD starts the week at 12-3 overall and leading the RMAC at 7-0.
• Michaela Smith is second in the conference at 4.04 kills per set.
Looking Ahead
• Westminster heads to South Dakota next weekend for two conference matches. They will play at Black Hills State on October 14 and then face South Dakota Mines on October 15. Both matches will be carried live on the RMAC Network.
