SALINA, Kan. -- Senior Savanna Riney smacked a career-high 25 kills and hit .314 to energize a Golden Eagle offense that helped the John Brown University volleyball team to a four-set (25-23, 18-25, 25-21, 25-17) win over tournament host Kansas Wesleyan on Friday (Sept. 8) night inside Mabee Arena.
In the first match of the day, Riney's offensive output again led John Brown to a 3-1 win (24-26, 25-15, 25-18, 25-20) over Culver-Stockton (Mo.) as the Golden Eagles improved to 8-5 on the season.
Against the Wildcats (1-7) in the opening outing, JBU held CSC to a mere .070 (35-26-129) attacking clip, and the Golden Eagle blocking game resurfaced to produce 10 team blocks, tying a season high. Junior Erin Mullins posted five rejections, while Riney and junior Taylor Golmen each contributed four apiece.
Mullins notched 10 kills on 18 swings (.389) to join Riney in double-digit terminations, while senior Morgan Fincham passed out 24 helpers and junior Julie Milligan ate up 19 digs in the back row. Fincham completed the double-double with 10 scoops.
The Golden Eagles attacked at a .194 (52-24-144) clip, and took advantage of 10 Culver-Stockton serving errors on the afternoon.
In the primetime matchup, Riney's 25 kills proved too much in a matchup of heavy hitters. Kansas Wesleyan's Rylee Serpan also boasted 20 kills, but was limited to just one termination in the fourth and clinching set.
Junior Emma DeSanti took control of the passing game and dished out a career-high 31 assists, but Fincham also assisted on 18, allowing the fifth-year to surpass the 2,000 career assists mark. Fincham is just the ninth player in program history to meet the benchmark.
DeSanti added five kills, a block and eight digs in the win.
Golmen and Riney again teamed up to power the blocking effort of JBU, posting five and four, respectively. Golmen finished the night with 10 kills on 23 swings (.391), while freshman Cora Roweton added nine terminations.
John Brown hit .220 (61-26-159) and held the Coyote (6-7) offense under .200 (47-16-157).
Now winners of three straight and five of its last six, the Golden Eagles eye a perfect weekend with a pair of matchups on Saturday (Sept. 9) morning. JBU will take on Bethany (Kan.) at 10 a.m. before facing off with Haskell Indian Nations right after at noon.
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