RedTail Volleyball Falls to #8 Eagles in Top-10 Showdown

WATERLOO-The RedTail Volleyball team lost in a five-set thriller (25-22, 18-25, 25-17, 18-25, 12-15) to the #8 Kirkwood Eagles on Thursday, March 18.

The match brought high intensity, as the the two Eastern Iowa teams were ranked #7 and #8 respectively. Set one went back-and-forth early on, as both teams struggled to gain control. Halfway through the set, the RedTails put together a huge run, putting them ahead 21-13. That stretch proved to be the difference, as the RedTails won the first set 25-22.

The Eagles came with a vengeance in the second set, as they held the momentum from beginning to end, winning 25-18. With the teams tied at one set apiece, the RedTails came out firing in set three. At one point, the RedTails held a 8 point lead, which included a stretch that held back-to-back service aces from sophomore Emily Clapp.

Down 2-1 in sets, the Eagles come into the fourth set with a sense of urgency, cruising to a 25-18 win. The tie-breaking fifth set included much of the same intensity and energy that the rest of the match brought, with the Eagles sneaking away with a 15-12 win.

Sophomore Amber Rickert put together one of her best performances of the season, recording 22 kills and 20 digs throughout the entirety of the match.

"It was a battle and we played really well at times, [but] we just couldn't finish in the 5th set," said head coach Tyann Caspers.

The RedTails will look to bounce back when they travel to take on Northeast Community College on Saturday, March 20.