Millikin Volleyball Coach Nearing Linda Slagell's Career Mark

DECATUR, Illinois -- The Millikin University volleyball team went 3-1 at the Elmhurst College Invitational September 19-20 in Elmhurst.

The wins gave the Big Blue a 13-3 record this season and moved Head Coach Debbie Kiick into a tie with Linda Slagell as the Big Blue's winningest volleyball coach. Kiick's career mark stands at 327-174 while Slagell's career mark is 327-190. Slagell was the Effingham High School volleyball coach before moving on to Millikin University.

Highlighting the weekend was Millikin’s 3-2 (20-25, 25-17, 23-25, 26-24, 15-11) win over #14 College of St. Benedict on Friday. Senior All-American Audrey Krajec (West Salem, Edwards County H.S.) led the Big Blue attack with 21 kills, 10 digs and two blocks. Krajec had a .356 hitting percentage. Freshman Erin Syversen (Pewaukee, Wis., Waukesha West H.S.) had a team high 14 digs, 10 digs and three blocks.  Freshman Jenna Hilgers (Mason City, Illini Central H.S.) had 50 set assists, 11 digs and two blocks. Christina Capuani (Addison, Addison Trail H.S.) had 11 digs and three service aces.

Millikin lost its first match of the day to the University of Chicago 3-1 (19-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-22.). Krajec led the Big Blue attack with 16 kills and 10 digs. Senior Jade Becker (Mt. Zion, H.S.) had 12 kills. Capuani led Millikin with 18 digs. Geena Mancuso (Naperville, Waubonsie Valley H.S.) added 15 digs. Syversen had 14 digs, nine kills, two service aces and two blocks.
 
Millikin started play Saturday with a 3-0 win over Susquehanna (25-10, 25-16, 25-14). Krajec had 20 kills in the game with a .459 hitting percentage. Krajec added eight digs, four blocks and one service ace. Hilgers had 30 set assists. Syversen had nine kills and nine digs. Capuani had a team high 10 digs.  Mancuso had three aces.

The Big Blue defeated Wisconsin-Platteville 3-0 (25-14, 25-22, 25-20). Krajec again led the way for Millikin with team highs in kills (13), digs (eight) and service aces (three). Krajec's hitting percentage was .478 for the match. Becker had six kills with a .625 hitting percentage. Hilgers had 33 set assists and helped the Big Blue to a team hitting percentage of .359.

Krajec was named to the Elmhurst Invitational All-Tournament Team.