The Aurora University women's volleyball team returned home to James Lancaster court in Thornton Gymnasium for the 2018 Jim Coleman Memorial Classic on Friday night. The Spartans hosted Carthage College in a battle among teams receiving voted in the latest AVCA poll. AU was victorious in four sets, winning 3-1 (25-15, 25-21, 19-25, 25-22).

THE BASICS:
FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 3, Carthage College 1 (25-15, 25-21, 19-25, 25-22)
LOCATION: Concordia University Chicago - River Forest, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 6-4 overall and 2-0 NACC; Carthage College 8-7 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED -
- The Spartans utilized a 9-0 run with Makayla Fincher at the service line in the opening set to grab a 13-7 lead and never looked back. AU went on to win 25-15 behind six kills from Katie Vondra.
- The second set saw the Spartans lead early and hold off a late Carthage rally for a 25-21 win. Vondra and Imani Freeman each had five kills in the set.
- AU fell behind early in the third set, 8-1 and battled back into the contest getting to within four at 22-18 before losing 25-19.
- The Spartans rebounded in the fourth set, winning 25-22. Freeman had six kills with Karli Chambers bringing down five including the final kill of the contest.

SPARTAN LEADERS –                                             
KILLS: Imani Freeman (19), Karli Chambers (15) and Katie Vondra (14)
ASSISTS: Emily Lines (49)
DIGS: Kate Vondra (23), Nikki Lofshult (20), Emily Lines (17), Karli Chambers (16) and Makayla Fincher (11)
BLOCKS: Samantha Weising (4), Lindsey Simpson and Karli Chambers (3)
 
UP NEXT:
Next action for the Spartan women's volleyball team comes on Saturday, September 22 when they host the Jim Coleman Memorial Classic. Match time for the Spartans is set for 11:00 a.m. against Ripon College and 5:00 p.m. against University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh on Lancaster Court in Thornton Gymnasium.