Volleyball Earns Conference Victory with Balanced Team Effort

CRETE, Neb. – The Doane Tigers secured a hard-fought 3–1 victory over Mount Marty on Saturday afternoon, pushing their season record to 8–6 overall and 1–1 in GPAC play. The win highlighted Doane's balance on both sides of the net, as the Tigers capitalized on timely defense and spread-out scoring to control the match.

Doane opened strong with a 25–23 win in the first set, using a steady defensive presence to edge the Lancers. Mount Marty rallied in the second frame, sneaking out a 25–23 win to even the match. From there, the Tigers responded with poise, taking set three 25–18 and closing out the afternoon with a decisive 25–20 finish in the fourth.

Offensively, senior outside hitter Brooke Larsen paced Doane with 15 kills, leading the way in the Tigers' 43-kill performance. She added 17 points overall and chipped in six digs. Natalie Wood and Kate Roseland each provided consistent support, combining for 19 kills, while setter Camdyn Carpenter distributed 33 assists and showcased her all-around game with 10 digs and six blocks.

Defensively, Doane's back row anchored the effort with Kaylee Rammell tallying a team-high 23 digs, while Chloe Rose, Lillian Parolek, and Carpenter added key defensive coverage. At the net, the Tigers put up 11.5 total team blocks, frustrating Mount Marty's hitters and turning momentum in key stretches.

The Tigers also showed resilience at the service line, collecting seven aces despite some errors. Sydney Estill sparked the second set with back-to-back aces, while Larsen and Rose each chipped in critical service runs to keep Mount Marty under pressure.

Mount Marty was led by Jaya Wachholtz with 13 kills, but the Lancers struggled to find rhythm against Doane's defense, hitting just .026 for the match compared to the Tigers' .119.

With the win, Doane posted their first GPAC victory and gained confidence heading into the next stretch of conference competition. The Tigers return to action next week in Omaha at College of Saint Mary on September 17 as they continue to build momentum in league play.

Final Score: Doane 3, Mount Marty 1 (25–23, 23–25, 25–18, 25–20)

(generated by ChatGPT)