Women’s Volleyball
The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s volleyball team (2-11, 0-2 Horizon) hosted the Robert Morris Colonials (6-7, 2-0 Horizon) for a two game Horizon League series this weekend inside the Gates Sports Center.
Friday –The Mastodons fell to the Colonials one set to three (25-21, 15-25, 23-25, 33-35) in the first Horizon League matchup of the season. The Mastodons came out swinging in the first set to take an early 7-2 lead. However, the Colonials would not go away easily. RMU would eventually tie the set up at 10, and the game would be a back and forth affair until RMU led 21-19. After a service error by RMU, Purdue Fort Wayne’s Becky Barrett would rotate to the service line and rattle off six straight points to secure the first set.
The second set was all RMU. The Mastodons would tie the set up at 4-4, but they would never be close after this point thanks to a 7-0 run by the Colonials. The Mastodons were unable to get any offense going in this set on their way to only hitting at a .083 mark.
The remaining two sets were back and forth with the Colonials coming out on top by two in both sets. The fourth set marathon saw the score tied 24 times with no team being able to pull away starting at the 11-11 score. An attacking error by the Mastodons’ leading attacker, Riley Rosneck, would give the Colonials a two-point lead and the match point.
Purdue Fort Wayne – Individual Stats
Kills: Riley Rosneck (22), Trinity Rye (15), Jena Medearis (9)
Aces: Haiden Means (3), Becky Barrett (2), Meg Berkland (1), Trinity Rye (1)
Blocks: Mya Plemons (6), Jena Medearis (3), Haiden Means (3)
Assists: Haiden Means (40), Lili Smith (7), Becky Barrett (6)
Digs: Becky Barrett (16), Meg Berkland (16), Riley Rosneck (12)
Purdue Fort Wayne – Hitting by the Set
Set 1 – 15 Kills, 7 Errors, 37 Attempts, 0.216 Hitting %
Set 2 – 10 Kills, 7 Errors, 36 Attempts, 0.083 Hitting %
Set 3 – 13 Kills, 7 Errors, 49 Attempts, 0.122 Hitting %
Set 4 – 19 Kills, 8 Errors, 52 Attempts, 0.212 Hitting %
Total – 57 Kills, 29 Errors, 174 Attempts, 0.161 Hitting %
Saturday – A career high in kills from Rosneck was not enough for the Mastodons to take the second match against Robert Morris. In the rematch on the Arnie Ball Court, the Mastodons experienced a little déjà vu of the night before once again falling to the Colonials one set to three (25-23, 23-25, 15-25, 21-25). In the first set, the Mastodons were once again swinging again. Rosneck was swinging with authority as she tallied 11 kills in 19 attempts in the first set alone. Outside of an eight point run by RMU, neither team was able to rally more than four points in a row. The last four offensive points by the ‘Dons came by the swing of Rosneck.
The second set was a lot closer and much better offensively for the Mastodons than the night before. The Mastodons led for a majority of the set – trailed only 4-5 until the Colonials took a late 20-19 lead at the end of a three point rally on three kills by RMU’s Jocelyn Jourdan. The Mastodons didn’t fold at the adversity in this set tying the game up at 20, 22, and 23. Back to back kills by the Colonials tied the match at one set each.
Robert Morris took control in the third set often stringing together multiple points to the Mastodons’ single points. The Mastodons highest rally was only two points, and they only did it twice in the set. Offensively, the Mastodons never seemed to find a good opportunity for a swing. The ‘Dons were only able to muster 28 swings in the entire set. The Colonials used two separate five-point rallies to squash the Mastodon momentum for good.
In the last set, the Mastodons seemed to have a response for every Colonial run, but it was just not enough. A 4-0 start to the set by RMU was quickly responded to by the Mastodons including three service aces (and the only aces in the entire match for PFW) by Haiden Means to take a 6-5 lead. Another four point run by RMU was answered by a three point and four point run by PFW for the biggest lead of the set by PFW at 14-11. However, a six-point run by Robert Morris proved to be the difference in the match and too much for the Mastodons to answer.
Purdue Fort Wayne – Individual Stats
Kills: Riley Rosneck (24), Jena Medearis (10), Trinity Rye (8)
Aces: Haiden Means (3)
Blocks: Mya Plemons (7), Trinity Rye (4), Jena Medearis (2)
Assists: Haiden Means (46), Lili Smith (6), Meg Berkland (2)
Digs: Becky Barrett (20), Meg Berkland (12), Riley Rosneck (10)
Purdue Fort Wayne – Hitting by the Set
Set 1 – 17 Kills, 5 Errors, 44 Attempts, 0.273 Hitting %
Set 2 – 18 Kills, 7 Errors, 48 Attempts, 0.229 Hitting %
Set 3 – 9 Kills, 5 Errors, 28 Attempts, 0.143 Hitting %
Set 4 – 12 Kills, 9 Errors, 44 Attempts, 0.068 Hitting %
Total – 56 Kills, 26 Errors, 164 Attempts, 0.183 Hitting %
The Mastodons will travel to IU Indy (6-8, 0-2 Horizon League) on Tuesday, September 30. The Jaguars are coming off two weekend losses to Wright State. Tuesday’s match will start at 7:00 PM and will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
Men’s Soccer
Saturday –The undefeated Purdue Fort Wayne men’s soccer team (5-0-4, 2-0-1 Horizon League) also took on the Robert Morris Colonials (3-1-4, 1-0-2 Horizon League) in the Fort this weekend. After 90 minutes of blemish free play on the banks of the St. Joseph River, the Mastodons remain undefeated drawing 0-0.
In the first half, the Mastodons played relatively clean. Getting eight shots off while only being called for four penalties put the pressure on the Colonial defense. PFW also led in corner kicks for the half 4-2. The Mastodons probably had their best chance to score midway through the half with two corner kicks and two shots on goal between the 19th and 21st minutes.
After the half time break, RMU appeared to be a little more aggressive. The Colonials topped their 10 first half penalties with 12 in the second half, including two yellow cards in the later stage of the game. PFW was also given two yellow cards in the half as well. Robert Morris had more shots (6-4) and corner kicks (3-2) than Purdue Fort Wayne in the second half, yet neither team was able to find the back of the net.
Goalkeeper Sep Habibi earned his fifth shutout of the year for the ‘Dons by saving all three RMU shots on goal. Five players for the Mastodons played all 90 minutes. The Mastodons can move up in the United Soccer Coaches North Region poll from their 7th place position with losses by Northwestern University, Indiana University, and Michigan University this past week. However, Michigan State University may sneak in above the ‘Dons with back to back wins over #2 Indiana and #1 Michigan.
The men’s soccer team will be traveling as well for their next contest. The ‘Dons will head up to play at Milwaukee (2-3-5, 1-0-2 Horizon League) on October 4 at 4:00 PM (ET).
Women’s Soccer
Sunday –The Purdue Fort Wayne (1-9-1, 0-3-0 Horizon League) women’s soccer team was literal seconds away from their second draw Sunday afternoon in Green Bay, but the Green Bay Phoenix (3-7-2, 1-2-1 Horizon League) had different ideas with a late goal to hand PFW another loss by a score of 1-2.
The first half of the match started to look like a repeat of the Mastodons last home game against the Wright State Raiders where defense was going to rule and it was a matter of bend not break. The Mastodons were able to keep Green Bay mostly at bay from attacking for the half, only allowing five total shots on goal. Grad student and goalkeeper Jordan Imes continued to be a dependable keeper saving the first four shots on goal. The fifth shot on goal came via a penalty kick with less than a minute to play by Green Bay’s Hanna Arvay that Imes was unable to save. However, the ‘Dons did the improbable by tying the game up before the end of the half. Tracking the ball from a corner kick from redshirt junior Mary McArdle, freshman Bella Masse emerged from the cluster of players in the box with a great look at the goal, and Masse booted the tying goal into the net with 18 seconds to go in the half.
The second half of play was eerily similar to the first half. Defense, defense, and more defense. The Phoenix took another five shots on goal, and the Mastodons took only one more shot on goal. The game entered the final minutes looking like neither team was able to break the defensive wall of their opponents. The game entered the final minute, and Purdue Fort Wayne’s Sabrina Sokol was called for a penalty, and the short reset was just enough for Green Bay’s Arvay to find her teammate Allison Raasch from midfield for a jumping header goal in the final minute of the half. Unfortunately for the Mastodons, they were unable to match the goal in the short time and once again on the wrong side of the scoreboard as the final horn sounded.
The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s soccer team will be completing the last of their road trip against Oakland next Saturday, October 4. That game is slated for a 7:00 PM start.
Women’s Golf
Sunday – The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s golf team finished in the middle of the pack placing 5th out of 11 teams competing in the Women’s Fighting Irish Classic at Notre Dame.
Purdue Fort Wayne’s Lara Dommach was the low scorer for the Mastodons with 77-78-155 (+11), earning her an 11th place finish individually. Dommach was competing as an individual and not for the team score. Natalie Papa (+19, 31st) and Lillie Cone (+22, 40th) also represented PFW as individuals. Dommach’s 155 was one shy of her career best for two rounds of 18 holes of play.
For the team, the Mastodons were led by Emily Gottman and Olivia Jang. Both players shot a 158 to tie for 20th individually. Louise Ekesall (+15, 23rd), Hunar Mittal (+16, 24th), and Lillian Gottman (+20, 35th) rounded out the team scoring.
Horizon League opponents Youngstown State (2nd Place), Oakland (6th Place), and IU Indy (8th Place) also competed at the event. Youngstown State’s Maddi Shoults finished even par (144) with a +4 in Round 1 and a -4 in Round 2 to finish 3rd overall as an individual. Notre Dame’s Alexsandra Lapple took medalist honors finishing three strokes under par through the two rounds.
The Mastodon women’s golf team is back on the course next weekend at the Rocket Classic hosted by the University of Toledo. Joining the field is Detroit Mercy, Bethune-Cookman University, Ohio University, and Indiana State University.
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