St. Francis (IL) News
Sat, Sep 4, 2010 - [Volleyball]
Senior Lauren Hoffman averaged 9.3 kills per match to lead the Saints to four easy wins.
Senior Lauren Hoffman averaged 9.3 kills per match to lead the Saints to four easy wins.

CHICAGO - University of St. Francis volleyball coach Cara Currier would love to get accustomed to weekends like the past two.

The Fighting Saints rolled to four more wins in as many outings on Friday and Saturday to move their 2010 season record to 8-0 with a clean sweep at the Saint Xavier University/Illinois Institute of Technology Crossover Tournament. 

USF started things off on Friday evening at IIT by taking a pair of three-game sweeps from Siena Heights University (MI) (25-17, 25-17, 25-11) and Kansas Wesleyan University (25-15, 25-10, 25-20). 

Senior outside Kyrsten Becker (Rolling Meadows H.S./Arlington Heights, IL) led the USF attack against Siena Heights with 12 kills in just 16 attempts - including 12 kills in her first 12 tries. Fellow senior middle blocker Lauren Hoffman (Plainfield South H.S./Plainfield, IL) added 8 kills and led the team with 3 blocks. Freshman libero Breanne Shaw (Joliet Township H.S./Joliet, IL) paced the defense with 10 digs and 10 service receptions.

Hoffman keyed the Saints' attack against KWU with 10 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Jazzmyne Robbins (La Salle-Peru H.S./Peru, IL) added 8 kills. Sophomore defensive specialist Dana Wettergren (Oak Forest H.S./Oak Forest, IL) topped USF with 12 digs and 16 serve receptions. Freshman middle blocker Kate McIlvanie (Lena-Winslow H.S./Eleroy, IL) led the way with 5 total blocks.

USF added two more sweeps to its record on Saturday with 3-0 wins over both St. Catharine College (KY) (25-9, 25-12, 25-12) and Lourdes College (OH) (25-20, 25-15, 25-19).

Becker, Robbins and junior right-side attacker Sarah Ahline (Lemont H.S./Lemont, IL) each had 9 kills to lead the Saints' offense against St. Catharine. Senior setter Kelsey Polte (Hall H.S./Spring Valley, IL) ran the offense with 28 assists. Shaw topped USF with 10 digs.

Hoffman (12), Becker (11) and Robbins (10) all recorded double-digit kill numbers vs. Lourdes. Polte again racked up 28 assists. Becker starred defensively as well with a team-high 21 digs and Shaw led the way with 14 serve receptions.

USF has recorded a half-dozen three-game sweeps in its first eight matches, with the other two bouts only going four games each. 

The Saints play their 2010 home opener and begin Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Tuesday when they host Calumet College of St. Joseph (IN) at 7 p.m. at the USF Recreation Center.