BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology opened the Illinois Wesleyan Invitational with a five-set victory over Adrian College and a three-set win over Lincoln Christian on Friday night.
Head coach Brenda Goble called the effort against Adrian "an incredible win and the best match we've played all season!"
Adrian won the opening set 25-20, before Rose-Hulman responded with a 25-19 victory in the second set. The Bulldogs took a 2-1 lead by claiming the third set 25-19.
Rose-Hulman rallied to win set four 25-23, then captured the match victory 15-9 in the final set.
Against Adrian, sophomore Becca Poppel led the offensive effort with 16 kills and added 24 digs in the victory. Freshman Bailey MacInnis and freshman Julia Hammond recorded 11 kills each.
Senior Sarah Jensen led the squad with 31 assists, and freshman Marissa Gollnick added 21 assists. Sophomore Gabi Razma recorded an impressive 36 digs, with Poppel contributing 24 and Jensen adding 18.
Sophomore Ellese Petty came off the bench with career-high totals of nine kills and 15 digs to balance the attack. MacInnis had six total blocks, and Emily McLendon added four.
In the second match, the Fightin' Engineers took care of Lincoln Christian 25-20, 25-22, 25-8.
Poppel led the team with 12 kills, and Gollnick added eight. Jensen reached double figures with 16 assists, and Mackenzie Gossard had two service aces. Razma tallied 17 digs to pace te team, with Gossard adding four blocks.
Rose-Hulman will return to the court with matchups against Simpson (noon CT) and host Illinois Wesleyan (2 p.m.) on Saturday afternoon.
Rose-Hulman stands 10-10 on the season after Friday's two wins.
