The Lawrence University volleyball team still had hopes of advancing to the Midwest Conference Tournament heading into their final two regular-season games, but the Vikings’ chances vanished after two losses last week.
Lawrence first faced Beloit College, who entered the match with an undefeated MWC record. Beloit quickly proved that their record was justified as they swept the Vikings 25-21, 25-10, 25-19 behind an 11-kill performance by Laura Toth. The second game’s 25-10 score was the worst for the season for the Vikings.
Clare Bohrer led the team with ten kills and Emma Kane added a team-high three aces in the losing effort.
In what proved to be their final game of the season, the Vikings still nursed an outside chance of making the conference tournament, but they fell short as they dropped their four-game match against fifth-place Lake Forest 25-19, 22-25, 25-20, 25-14.
The Vikings finished the season with a 14-18 record (3-6 MWC). The friendly confines of Alexander Gymnasium helped the Vikings keep the conference tournament within reach, as Lawrence was 5-2 at home this season.
With only three seniors on this year’s roster, Lawrence is poised for a strong 2010 season, but the Vikings will have to replace senior setter Laura Aerts, who notched one Midwest Conference Player of the Week award this year to go with her sixth-best-in-conference 8.31 assists per game. Aerts will graduate with 1190 career assists, good for seventh on Lawrence’s career list.
Volleyball drops final matches
