Christian Brothers takes No. 17 West Florida down in five sets

UWF loses first GSC match since 2010

Haley Shackelford was one of three Argos with a double-double after 16 kills and 16 digs (photo by Bill Stockland)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Three Argonauts had double-digit kill performances coupled with a strong defensive effort that included four players with double-figure digs, but the No. 17 West Florida volleyball team gave up three separate leads to lose to Christian Brothers 3-2 (25-21, 22-25, 24-26, 25-14, 12-15) in Gulf South Conference play Friday night.

It is the first loss for West Florida (6-6, 3-1 GSC) in conference play since the 2010 season, snapping a 23 match winning streak to hand it the first conference loss of the 2012 season.

Haley Shackelford (Colorado Springs, Colo./Yavapai) led the Argonauts in kills with 14 while Lindsay Homme (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale Central HS) had 13 and Autumn Duyn (Venice, Fla./Venice HS) had 12. Duyn and Shackelford also had double-doubles with 29 and 16 digs a piece, and K.C. Dobbins (Winston-Salem, N.C./Arkansas (Ronald Reagan HS) joined them with 16 digs and 24 assists.

A four point run by the Buccaneers doubled the score in their favor early in the first set, but the Argonauts responded immediately with a six point spree of their own to take a 10-8 advantage. UWF only allowed one more tie on the way to a 25-21 first set win.

West Florida took control in the second frame and did not relinquish it until the 21-21 mark, when several errors plagued the Argonauts and gave Christian Brothers an opportunity to grab a 4-1 run and snatch the set away 25-22.

A narrow third game followed until West Florida broke away with a sizeable 22-16 lead off four-straight kills by Shackelford, Dobbins and Jenny Bellairs (Osage, Iowa/Southeast Missouri State). The tide turned and a similar end to the second set ensued, with the Buccaneers going on a six point run to stay alive and grab the match lead with a 26-24 victory.

The Argonauts were fired up the next set and left no doubt there would be a deciding frame by consistently doubling the score of Christian Brothers, including an 18-9 advantage off back-to-back Sarah Scott (Plainfield, Ill./Texas-San Antonio (Plainfield North HS) kills and another by Homme. West Florida cruised through the set to win 25-14.

Christian Brothers returned the favor from earlier in the match with multiple attack errors in the final set to give UWF an 8-4 cushion, but keeping in theme with pervious comebacks, responded with seven straight points of its own to take the lead 11-8. With the score 14-11, the Argonauts managed to hold off match point twice but were unable to take advantage to fall in heartbreaking fashion 15-12.

Alexis Gillis led the Buccaneers offensively with 16 kills while Hannah Kurtz contributed 13. Kelsey Miles had 55 assists and Kristina Headrick had 35 digs.

West Florida continues GSC play tomorrow afternoon when it faces Union at 3 p.m. in Jackson, Tenn. For information on all UWF athletics, visit www.GoArgos.com.

#ARGOS#

                            Short Box Score (Match)
                          2012 West Florida Volleyball
    #17 West Florida vs Christian Brothers (Sep 21, 2012 at Memphis, Tenn.)

  Christian Brothers def. West Florida 21-25,25-22,26-24,14-25,15-12

  West Florida (6-6, 3-1 GSC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Haley Shackelford
  14-0-4; Lindsay Homme 13-0-10; Autumn Duyn 12-0-4; Christine Bach
  8-0-0; Jenny Bellairs 6-0-0; KC Dobbins 4-0-2; Sarah Scott 4-0-4;
  Sierra Hansen 0-0-2; Andraia Leja 0-2-0; Totals 61-2-14.0. (Assists) -
  KC Dobbins 24; Sierra Hansen 19. (Dig leaders) - Autumn Duyn 29;
  Colleen Starrs 23; KC Dobbins 16; Haley Shackelford 16; Lindsay Homme
  8; Sierra Hansen 8

  Christian Brothers (7-3, 2-0 GSC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Alexis Gillis
  16-0-1; Hannah Kurtz 13-0-0; Hailey Gillis 11-0-1; Lizzie McLean
  9-0-3; Kaitlin Keathley 7-0-2; Kelsey Miles 3-2-2; Alison Welch 2-0-0;
  Sami Gruse 0-4-0; Corinne Doder 0-1-0; Lauren South 0-1-0; Totals
  61-8-5.0. (Assists) - Kelsey Miles 55. (Dig leaders) - Kristina
  Headrick 35; Lauren South 26; Corinne Doder 13; Hailey Gillis 10;
  Kelsey Miles 8; Alexis Gillis 8

  Site: Memphis, Tenn. (Canale Arena)
  Date: Sep 21, 2012   Attend: 435   Time: 2:19   
  Referees: David Henry, Stacy Barrom
                           

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