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GRACELAND UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Yellowjackets Capture First Heart Win in Four-Set Victory Over Clarke

Yellowjackets Capture First Heart Win in Four-Set Victory Over Clarke

Box Score
Game Leaders
Clarke (IA)
K: Keely Colyer - 13
B: Kaelyn Minich - 4
D: Jayden Knox - 14
SA: Madison Peck - 3
Graceland
K: Kaci Young - 13
B: Kaylee Baker - 5
D: Shaeniah La Fountain - 17
SA: Grace Jensen - 8
Team Stats
Full stats

LAMONI, Iowa — The Graceland University women's volleyball team earned its first Heart of America Athletic Conference victory of the season, outlasting Clarke University in a 3-1 decision at the Morden Center on Tuesday night. The win improves Graceland's record to 5-15 overall and 1-8 in Heart play, while Clarke falls to 2-18 overall and 0-10 in conference competition.

Graceland took the match by scores of 25-20, 18-25, 25-20, 26-24, showcasing improvements in execution, blocking efficiency and service pressure throughout the evening. The Yellowjackets were led by balanced scoring and an aggressive front row presence that produced 48 total kills and a team hitting percentage of .124, while holding the Pride to .110.

"What can you say? A conference win in a well contested match," said Graceland head coach Stew McDole. "In the Heart every win counts. There are no easy nights – every match is a test. Tonight we celebrate and sleep well."

SET 1: Graceland 25, Clarke 20

Graceland opened the night with a fast-paced attack and built early momentum with kills from senior Ella Thomas (Norman, Okla.) and sophomore Kaci Young (Centennial, Colo.). A strong start behind setter Allison Sander (Papillion, Neb.), who logged 22 assists, gave the Yellowjackets a 4-0 advantage.

Timely kills by Young and a well-timed service ace from Grace Jensen (Rosemount, Minn.) pushed the lead to 20-14. Clarke attempted a late rally but senior middle hitter Kaylee Baker (New Hampton, Iowa) helped close the set with a kill and a block assist, securing the early edge.

SET 2: Clarke 25, Graceland 18

Clarke responded in the second frame, led by Keely Colyer who notched 13 kills on the night. Despite another early 2-0 advantage for Graceland following an ace by Madi Bratlie (Maricopa, Ariz.), unforced errors and a 7-0 run by the Pride turned the tide. The Yellowjackets committed six attack errors and four service errors in the set, leading to a .031 hitting percentage and allowing Clarke to even the match.

SET 3: Graceland 25, Clarke 20

A critical third set saw Graceland re-establish control. Senior opposite Kylee Dixon (Lawson, Mo.) emerged with a standout performance, hitting .562 with 9 kills on just 16 swings. Graceland's block tightened up, with Kaci Young and Baker combining for seven block assists.

Freshman setter Kariana Hernandez Cruz (Vega Alta, Puerto Rico) sparked a service run with back-to-back aces, and Young delivered a pivotal kill from the right side to break open a 20-17 game and seal the set.

SET 4: Graceland 26, Clarke 24

In the most tightly contested set of the match, Graceland raced out to an 8-0 start, powered by three consecutive service aces from Grace Jensen and back-to-back kills from Thomas and Young.

However, Clarke battled back, tying the score at 20-20 on a service ace from Colyer. The Yellowjackets called timeout to regroup and executed with poise out of the break. A Dixon kill gave Graceland a 24-23 lead before a combined block by Jensen and Dixon set up match point. Fittingly, Young delivered the final blow with a kill on an outside set from Sander, clinching the 26-24 win and securing the team's first Heart victory.

TEAM LEADERS

  • Kaci Young paced the attack with 13 kills and 4 block assists, finishing with a match-high 15.0 points.

  • Grace Jensen added 7 kills, a match-best 8 service aces, and 16 digs, contributing 15.5 total points.

  • Kylee Dixon posted 9 kills and hit .562, anchoring the middle with 4 total blocks.

  • Kaylee Baker contributed 6 kills, 5 total blocks, and a .250 hitting percentage.

  • Shaeniah La Fountain (Waipahu, Hawaii) and Bratlie provided key defensive support with 17 and 2 digs, respectively.

  • Kariana Hernandez Cruz finished with 11 assists, 2 aces, and 5 digs off the bench.

  • As a team, Graceland recorded 12 service aces, 12 total blocks, and 61 total digs.

CLARKE STATISTICAL LEADERS

Clarke was led by Colyer with 13 kills, 15 assists, and 1 ace. Amelia Driver added 7 kills and 2 aces, while Madison Peck served 3 aces and chipped in defensively. The Pride totaled 38 kills and 8 blocks in the loss.

ROSTER SPOTLIGHT

This win featured contributions across all classes:

  • Senior leadership: Thomas, Jensen, Baker, Dixon, and Sander stabilized the court throughout the match.

  • Sophomores: Young, Caresia (Lawson, Mo.), and Van Kastel (Woudrichem, Netherlands) added depth at the net.

  • Freshmen: Heinzmann (Stuttgart, Germany) and La Fountain proved reliable in serve receive and coverage roles.

  • International presence: Five players hail from outside the continental U.S., underscoring the Yellowjackets' global reach.

UP NEXT

Graceland returns to Heart action on Thursday, October 2, hosting Peru State at 7:00 PM CDT inside the Morden Center in Lamoni, Iowa.

For more information on Graceland women's volleyball and all Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com