ANNIKA WALL, MANAGING EDITOR
The Wartburg Volleyball team went 2-0 last week in American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) play beginning with a 3-0 sweep over Simpson. The win earned Jennifer Walker, co-head coach, her 500th win at Wartburg.
This is Walker’s 22nd season at Wartburg. Walker is the program’s all-time winningest head coach.
“Last night was a fun night to celebrate Wartburg volleyball,” Walker said. “Our 2019 team is made up of some truly wonderful players. … I still have copies of all of my rosters from each of my years at Wartburg. I enjoy looking back at them and remembering those players and teams and what those seasons were for us. Five hundred is just a number. It’s the players that make the wins and the memories special.”
Wartburg’s win was highlighted in the second set. The team hit 43.5% throughout after taking an 11-2 lead. Throughout the match, the Knights held Simpson to a negative attacking percentage and forced 24 Storm errors.
Wartburg was led by youth in Zaiah Quirk ’22, Jayme Willemssen ’22 and Natalie Clayberg ’23. Quirk had eight kills, Willemssen seven and Clayberg contributed six. Setters Claire Marsh ’22 and Sydney Rottinghaus ’21 each had double-doubles in assists and digs.
Wartburg also defeated the Central Dutch on Friday, 3-1. This is Wartburg’s fifth-straight conference victory.
The two teams both hit 16.5% during the match, but Wartburg set the tone in the first set. The Knights hit 35.7% and forced nine Dutch errors.
Kylie Bildstein ’21 and Dani Johnson ’21 locked down the net as middle blockers and combined for 20 kills.
Wartburg’s next match will be at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 16 at home against Coe College. Wartburg is 5-0 in conference play to lead the A-R-C. Coe is third with a 12-12 overall record and 3-1 in conference.
Knight Wire 
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