Wildcats show promise despite season-opening loss

CANTON, Mo. — Not much was expected of the Culver-Stockton Wildcats women’s volleyball team in their season-opening match against Waldorf (Iowa) University Saturday afternoon at Charles Field House.

After all, the Wildcats had just six days of practice under their belt with a head coach that was hired 19 days ago.

But if the last two sets are any indication, the Wildcats are going to be just fine.

C-SC looked like a team that hadn’t spent much time on the practice floor as its timing and positioning was off in the first two sets. However, the Wildcats played much better in the latter two sets of a 25-19, 25-15, 23-25, 25-23 loss to the Warriors.

C-SC attack percentage in the opening two sets was dismal with a negative hitting percentage in each of the first two games. Couple that with rotation issues and serve receive problems and it appeared it would be a quick match.

But the Wildcats found their attacking mojo in the third set, finishing with a .364 hitting percentage to win the set. The attack was even better in the fourth set at .455 as the Wildcats nearly stole the set, rallying from a 22-18 deficit to tie the game at 23 before the Warriors put the match to bed with two consecutive points.

The difference in the attacking percentages between the first two sets and the last two sets was like night and day. In the first two sets, the Wildcats combined to hit at negative .083 percent. However, in the final two sets they combined for a .400 attacking percentage. C-SC finished with a .140 percentage for the match.

Three players registered double digits in kills with Zoe Irvin leading the way with 13 terminations. Abby Godwin, who missed all of the 2023-24 season with an injury, and Ashleigh Brawley totaled 10 kills each.

Lauren Bloom garnered 35 of the 40 set assists for the Wildcats, while Kyla Ellis recorded 14 digs in the to lead the backrow defense.

The Wildcats’ next chance to give new coach Audrye Alejandro-Rivera his first collegiate victory comes Wednesday night, Aug. 21, when C-SC hosts William Woods University at Charles Field House. First serve is set for 7 p.m.

Final		1	2	3	4	T
	Waldorf (1-2)	25	25	23	25	3
	Culver-Stockton (MO) (0-1)	19	15	25	23	1