The Aurora University women's volleyball team opened the returned to the court for the 2024 Jim Coleman Memorial Classic. The Spartans started the day with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Southwestern University before rallying in the nightcap to defeat Elmhurst University 3-1.


MATCH ONE SCORE: Southwestern University 3, Aurora University 1 (31-29, 20-25, 23-25,20-25)
MATCH TWO SCORE: Aurora University 3, Elmhurst University 1 (25-15, 27-25, 25-27, 25-17)
LOCATION: Thornton Gymnasium - Aurora, Illinois
RECORD: Aurora University 1-1 overall


MATCH ONE:
- The first set of the day was a foreshadowing for the four matches on the day. Back and forth, well played volleyball that went extra time.
- AU won the first set 31-29. 
- Kate Poellmann hit .333 and had seven kills in the set as AU hit .232 as a team.
- The second set was back and forth until a small run by Southwestern midway through allowed them to gain control and win the set 25-20 to tie the match at 1-1.
- The third saw more closely played volleyball and a Poellmann kill late brought AU to down one at 24-23.
- AU would fall in the set though 25-23 despite six different Spartans knocking down a kill.
- In the fourth set, the Spartans would never lead but remained within striking distance before falling 25-20 and dropping the match 3-1.

MATCH TWO
- The opening set was scored back and forth over the opening points with the set tied 8-8.
- An Addyson Timpane kill started an 8-2 AU run that ended with a kill from Erin Henkel.
- The Spartans carried the momentum to a 25-15 first set win.
- AU jumped out to a big lead in the second set but would find themselves down 24-21 late.
- Three Elmhurst errors and an ace from Trinity Nelson gave AU a 25-24 lead. The set would be won with back to back kills from Kate Poellmann and Izzie Jackson.
- The third set was similar to the second but with roles reversed as the Spartans held a large late lead only to see Elmhurst rally and win the set 27-25.
- In the fourth set and with the scored tied 9-9, Henkel hammered one of her five kills in the frame to give AU a lead they would not relinquish.
- The Spartans would go on to win the set 25-17 and the match 3-1.


MATCH ONE
KILLS: Kate Poellmann (17) and Lulu Torres (14)
ASSISTS: Hannah Joseph (29) and Trinity Nelson (22)
DIGS: Hannah Evenson (24) and Lulu Torres (19)
ACES: Lilly Vance and Lulu Torres (2)
BLOCKS: Erin Henkel and Lulu Torres (4)

MATCH TWO
KILLS:  Lilly Vance (11), Erin Henkel and Lulu Torres (9)
ASSISTS: Hannah Joseph (23) and Trinity Nelson (16)
DIGS: Hannah Evenson (19)
ACES: Erin Henkel (5) and Trinity Nelson (3)
BLOCKS: Erin Henkel (8)


Next scheduled action for the Spartan women's volleyball team comes on Saturday, August 31 when they host day two of the Jim Coleman Memorial Classic. AU takes on Cornell College at 12:00 p.m. and University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point at 6:00 p.m. in Thornton Gymnasium.