Millikin Athletics

Decatur, IL – Millikin University volleyball hosted day 1 of the Millikin Invite in Griswold Center. The Big Blue opened the evening head-to-head with the Monmouth Fighting Scots and concluded with the Polar Bears of Ohio Northern University.
 
The opener was extended to 27-25 with Millikin and Monmouth going point by point. With back-to-back hitting errors, the Fighting Scots handed the Big Blue the first set.
 
Monmouth fought back in the second with nine kills from Kaylee Celus, ripping hard at every ball; shifting the momentum and leading the Scots to a 25-23 winner.
 
It was all in favor of the Big Blue the rest of the way taking the last two sets after putting Monmouth into a negative hitting percentage.
 
Thayleah Hall was one off a double-double with 11 kills and nine digs. The middles duo Kyra Carothers and Nikkel Johnson combined for a total of 17 kills and nine blocks.
 
Kaitlynn Hartnady has made her presence known with a career-high 14 digs, matched by setter Haylee Porter with 14 digs.
 
Even though the Big Blue ended the night late, their performance didn't alter; sweeping Ohio Northern 3-0 on a .315 clip as a team.
 
Miley Quade led the squad with a match-high 10 kills on .400 hitting and two block assists. Breaking through was Gabriella Ricci with a .333 clip marking nine kills.
 
Running the offense was senior Alyssa Frederking with a total of 47 assists on the day with a side of five service aces. Porter also lit it up at the service line with seven aces between two matches.
 
The Big Blue are continuing to grow in all areas of the game as they make their way through the non-conference schedule. Going into day two, their mindset is that "the job isn't finished", head coach Whitney Nichols states. They are enjoying the wins as they earn them but are not getting complacent, seeking to patch up weak spots.
 
Continuing tomorrow is the Millikin Invite with first serve at 10AM versus Franklin College, closing out against Dominican at 2PM in Griswold Center, also being streamed on the CCIW Network.