The Monmouth Fighting Scots volleyball team had their work cut out for them during homecoming week, splitting a two-game slate on October 9 and 10. On October 9, the Scots fell to a potent Illinois College squad before bouncing back the next day with a clean sweep of Knox. These results move Monmouth to 5-12 overall and 2-2 in league play, with the Scots sitting in the last conference tournament qualifying spot.
Against the Lady Blues, the Scots hung with the visitors all throughout the match, dropping the first two sets 25-18 and 25-21 before catching fire and claiming the third set 25-12. However, the Lady Blues found their touches once again and won the fourth set 25-14 to shut the door on the Scots.
Bri Woodard led the Scots in kills on the evening with 10, followed by Kaylee Celus with eight. Kami Barth and Isa Hughes each earned three aces on the night with Celus right behind them earning two. In the blocks category, Chloe Strachan and Abby Viano co-led Monmouth with six blocks each.
The next day, the Scots flipped the script, sweeping Knox in dominating fashion to claim the annual Hwy 34 derby. The hosts took each set by scores of 25-19, 25-13, and 25-11.
Celus led the team in kills that afternoon with 12 and aces with three. Melina Teunis led the Scots in blocks with four, followed by Viano with three and Woodard with two.
After hosting the Grinnell Pioneers on October 20, the Scots will return to Glennie Gym to play the final three matches of the regular season. Monmouth will host Lake Forest on October 30, Beloit on Halloween, and Blackburn to close out the campaign on November 2. First serves against the Foresters and Beavers are set for 7 p.m., while first serve against the Buccaneers is slated for 1 p.m. on Halloween.