Blake Surpasses 1,000 Digs; Bobcats Split Season Series

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Avila shook off a slow start to keep things competitive, but College of the Ozarks (15-9) still pulled out a four-set victory over the Eagles (6-16) on Tuesday night in Mabee Fieldhouse, exacting some revenge for Avila's victory all the way back in the season opener.

Libero Abigail Blake entered the night needing 24 digs to reach the 1,000 dig milestone in her Avila career and smashed that mark early in the fourth set Tuesday, ultimately finishing with a team-high 32, her fifth 30-dig performance in eight matches this month. 1,000 digs is a significant milestone for any player, even more so for a player who hasn't even played two full seasons of college volleyball.

What became a momentous night for one player did not start off very smoothly for her team: the Bobcats raced out to a 7-1 lead to start the night and never looked back, ultimately scoring four of the final five points to grab the first set 25-15.

The second set started much more smoothly for the home side, with the two teams trading points until COFO made the first surge, a 6-1 run to go up 10-7. Trailing by four, Avila got kills from Paige Huhman and Chelsea Schatzer to get back within two before the Bobcats reeled off six straight to move in front 23-15. Phoebe Riddle delivered a clutch kill and Avila ultimately staved off five set points on the serve of Sophia Giorgio, but the Bobcats finally broke through with a kill from Brooklyn Crawford to wrap up the second set 25-21.

The Eagles ultimately were able to settle in as the night wore on. The Bobcats started set three up 4-1 before Avila scored three straight to tie it up, capped by a block from Riddle and Schatzer. COFO took its largest lead, 14-11, forcing a timeout from Avila that worked immediately: a Sydney Owens kill got the Eagles back on serve, and Avila ultimately scored four straight, punctuated by a kill from Siobhan Dittmer, to go in front 19-17.

And the Eagles never trailed again. Another four-point run, this time on Kyleighn Block's serve, gave the Eagles five set points, and though the Bobcats did pull back three of them the Eagles finally came through with Daphne Gardner setting up Dittmer for the winning kill, getting the Eagles on the board with a 25-22 win.

Ozarks was the first team to make a run in the fourth set, scoring six of eight to edge in front 12-9, but Avila countered, scoring five of six to surge back ahead 14-13. Back to back kills from Bri Linehan put the Bobcats back ahead, and that gave the visitors the very slight edge that they needed: Avila had to play catchup the rest of the set. The Eagles got back within two on more than one occasion and fended off a pair of match points, but Emma Godwin set up Crawford for the winning kill on Ozarks' third try, wrapping up a four-set win for the visitors with a 25-22 triumph in set four.

Linehan had a strong game on the outside with 15 kills and 27 digs for COFO, and Crawford was good out of the middle with 13 kills on .258 hitting. Avila's best offense came from middles Dittmer (11 kills) and Riddle (eight kills), who also combined for five block assists; Paige Gillund has stepped into an elevated role recently and tied her season high in assists; Blake was the Eagles' headliner with a match-high 32 digs.

Avila's busy late October week continues Wednesday night in Mabee Fieldhouse when the Eagles return to conference play to face Friends. First serve is scheduled for 7:30 PM; as always, you can watch all the action live and for free on the Avila Sports Network with Max Williams on the call from Mabee Fieldhouse.