Yellowjackets Drop Two on Day One of William Penn Invitational
OSKALOOSA, Iowa — August 29, 2025 — The Graceland University women's volleyball team faced a tough opening day at the William Penn Invitational, falling in straight sets to Briar Cliff and Waldorf on Friday at the Penn Activity Center.
With the two setbacks, the Yellowjackets move to 3-5 overall (0-0 Heart of America Athletic Conference). Briar Cliff improved to 3-2 overall (0-0 GPAC) while Waldorf stayed unbeaten at 6-0 overall (0-0 NSAA).
"It was rough today for a tired GU volleyball team," head coach Stew McDole said. "Tired mentally and tired physically after a grueling five-set win last night. Today was not a fair representation of who we are. Tomorrow a better day."
Match One: Briar Cliff 3, Graceland 0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-10)
Graceland opened its tournament against a strong Briar Cliff team that used steady blocking and efficient side-out play to control the match.
Kaylee Baker led the Jackets with 8 kills on 18 attempts, hitting .333, and added one service ace. She was supported by Grace Jensen's six kills and nine digs, while Kaci Young contributed six kills and four digs.
Setter Kariana Hernandez Cruz recorded 10 assists and added one ace, while Allison Sander chipped in two aces and two digs.
Graceland hit .173 as a team (28-14-81) but struggled to maintain consistency late, producing only four kills in the third set. Briar Cliff, meanwhile, hit an impressive .469 with 34 kills and controlled the net with 12 block assists.
The Yellowjackets' best opportunity came in the opening set when they pulled within 22-18 after kills by Baker and Young and an ace from Sander. Briar Cliff, however, answered with timely side-outs and secured the frame, setting the tone for the remainder of the match.
Match Two: Waldorf 3, Graceland 0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-21)
Graceland's second contest of the day pitted them against an unbeaten Waldorf squad that entered the tournament 5-0. The Warriors extended their winning streak with a sweep, though the Yellowjackets pushed the third set before falling 25-21.
Ella Thomas posted five kills, while Jensen added six kills and a team-high 11 digs. Evie Caresia had one of her strongest matches of the season with four kills on six swings, hitting .667.
On the defensive side, Kaylee Baker totaled four block assists while Kylee Dixon contributed five kills, two digs, and two block assists.
Graceland's attack efficiency was limited to .068 (28-21-103), while Waldorf generated 31 kills with a .165 hitting percentage. Waldorf also tallied 10 service aces, keeping pressure on Graceland's serve-receive throughout the match.
The Yellowjackets' closest push came in set three, where they closed to within 22-20 after kills from Dixon and Sander, as well as an ace from Hernandez Cruz. Waldorf responded with a side-out kill and a block to halt the run, finishing the set and match.
Day One Summary
Across the two matches, Graceland registered 56 total kills and 55 digs while using a rotation that saw multiple players contribute in both attack and defense. Baker led the Jackets in total points on the day with 15 combined kills and five block assists.
Despite the outcomes, McDole emphasized the bigger picture of the season. "The back-to-back nature of the tournament after last night's marathon five-set match tested our energy," he said. "This wasn't who we are, and we'll regroup for tomorrow's matches."
Next Matches
Graceland continues tournament play on Saturday, Aug. 30, in day two of the William Penn Invitational. The Yellowjackets will face Mount Marty at 9 a.m. followed by Dordt at 1 p.m. at the Penn Activity Center in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
For more information on Graceland women's volleyball and all Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.