Celus ties 23-year-old record during Eureka win
Izzy Gimm - Website and Social Media Manager
Monmouth College volleyball finished a 4-set match with a 25-9 victory over the Eureka Red Devils. The game started slowly, the Scots only pulling through for 25-22 and 25-23 wins in sets one and two. They dropped set three to Eureka but came back stronger, securing a game win after set four.
Kaylee Celus (Annawan, IL), freshman outside hitter, tied a 23-year-old Monmouth College volleyball record with 26 kills in a 4-game match. Celus is no stranger to racking up accolades as she begins her collegiate volleyball career.
She has been named Midwest Conference Offensive Player of the Week twice already before Scots volleyball begins conference play. “I was nervous coming in and playing at the college level. After having a great start with my team, I am feeling more comfortable and excited to play,” said Celus. “My teammates are so supportive and are always so encouraging whenever I am having an off day. I know I can lean on any of them to help pick me up.”
Celus slammed down nine kills during the first set, but Monmouth began to pull away when senior setter Paige Bergschneider (Alexander, IL) served seven straight points, three of them being aces, to secure a 19-15 lead. Outside hitter Lauren Aldrich (Waucanda, IL) scored with two straight kills and brought the Scots first set lead to 23-19. Celus logs her ninth kill of the evening for a first set victory.
Monmouth trailed Eureka by as much as 10-17 during the second set. Freshman setter Tyla Mattson (Morton, IL) collected 13 assists in set two with the help of Celus, Aldrich, and junior middle blocker Alana Robertson (Mapleton, IL). Each hitter helped bring the Scots to a 19-18 lead over the Red Devils. Senior libero Savannah Robinson (Delavan, IL) brought the Scots to a 25-23 victory with an ace.
After a tough set three loss, the Scots pulled it together for a quick fourth set, featuring impressive scoring from Celus, Aldrich, Bergshneicher, and freshman pin hitter Chloe Strachan (Reynolds, IL). Celus and Strachan commanded kills that led the Scots to a 19-6 lead over the Red Devils early in the fourth set.
Celus logged her 26th kill, securing a 25-9 win over the Red Devils and tied a 23-year-old four-set kill record previously set by Scots’ volleyball alumni Jamie Jones in 2001 against Cornell College. “I honestly didn't know that the record existed, and I never really thought about it. I was just trying to do my part to help my team win,” said Celus.