Nov. 2, 2007
PENSACOLA, Fla. - The West Florida volleyball team cruised to a 30-23, 30-16, 30-18 victory over the Tigers from West Alabama Friday night, to improve to 28-4 on the season, and 11-0 in the conference. Setter Madeline Gonzalez (Jr. / Puerto Rico) had an outstanding evening with 42 assists as she spread the ball around magnificently. Five different Argo attackers had at least eight kills, as Kimberly Clark (Jr. / St. Petersburg, Fla.) led the way with 14, while Isabela Gualberto (Sr. / Brazil) added 13 kills.
Game one was close throughout and West Alabama closed to within one point at 24-23 after a kill from Teresa Clements. However, the Argos rattled off the next six points, with three of them coming on kills by Clark, including the game winner. The Argos carried the momentum and emotion of Senior Night thru games two and three for lopsided wins. In fact, in game two, the Argos hit an amazing .630 with 19 kills in only 27 attempts. Clark was the hot hand in game one, while Danielle Spitzer (Sr. / Birmingham, Ala.) put away six kills in game two, and Gualberto had five kills in game three to help keep the Tigers on their heels.
Coach Melissa Wolter was very pleased, "We played very well tonight, and with a lot of emotion because of Senior night. We won the serve and pass game, and we controlled the blocking game also. Overall we played very well against a very good team (West Alabama is 26-5 on the season), and much of the credit goes to Madi (Gonzalez), as she was outstanding. She moved the ball around well, this was one of her best matches." Gonzalez also had 14 digs and four kills go with her 42 assists.
West Alabama was led by Allison Nail with 10 kills, and Gabby Pedrosa with 11 digs. Meanwhile, Luciana Rapach (Jr. / Brazil) had a nice all-around match for the Argos, with 11 kills, eight assists, and 16 digs. Jerica Carter (Jr. / Gainesville, Fla.) chipped in defensively with 10 digs. Freshmen Chelsea Wilhoite (Jacksonville, Fla.) had a strong night hitting .300, with eight kills.
The Argos play their final Conference match tomorrow afternoon at the UWF Fieldhouse at 3:00 pm against Montevallo. UWF is 11-0 in the conference and is shooting for a perfect 12-0, before they head to the conference tournament next weekend as the #1 seed. The conference tournament is held this year in Searcy, Arkansas, and West Florida plays Ouachita Baptist in the first round on Friday, November 9th, at 2:30 pm. All the West Florida matches will be broadcast on Stretch Internet.
