FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The women's volleyball team is starting their 2023 campaign off undefeated after competing in the OnSet Invitational at both Hutzell Athletic Center & Allen County War Memorial in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Lady Cougs completed match 1 today in four sets against W. Virginia Tech, winning the first 2 sets, dropping the third, and coming out on top in the fourth to secure the match dub. 

In the first match, the Lady Cougars had three players in double digits for kills. Paige Fortkamp (16 kills), Addison Shafer (11 kills), & Caroline Jones (12 kills) tallied for a combined 39 kills while Emily Hughes & Kate McMullen also combined for 13 kills. Caroline Jones finished off the match with a .579 kill percentage and Alex Sparks sprinkled in another astounding assist count at 42. Jo Delsing also played a hand in the attack for the Cougars tallying 7 assists.

Senior, Alexis Gregory, held it down in the back court for USF scrounging up 12 digs to add to Kellyn Bertsch, Hannah Sweeney, Sanae Jennings, & Peyton Pries combined effort of 12 as well.

In match two of the day, the Lady Cougars won in four sets against the Wayland Baptist Pioneers of Texas. USF dropped set one to the Pioneers 25-27, but rallied back in set two to carry momentum on through the remainder of the match. Alexa Sparks tallied 2 service aces to cut the score within 2 points, tying the set at 24, and carrying the Cougs to a set two victory.

The Cougars went on to win sets three and four against the Pioneers with a display of exceptional grit as a team to secure a 4-0 start on the season. Paige Fortkamp tallied 20 kills for the Cougs while Kate McMullen & Addison Shafer both had 10 kills a piece. Alexa Sparks tallied 36 assists and Jo Delsing & Alexis Gregory combined for 9 assists. Hannah Sweeney, Sparks & Gregory were all in the double digits protecting the back court as well for USF. Freshman, Brianna Cook, also had a standout performance in match two of the day, tallying 3 crucial digs out of her 2 sets played. 

USF is now 4-0 on the season and swept the OnSet Invitational in a dominant fashion. The Lady Cougars will spring back into action August 25th to travel to take on the Trinity Christian Trolls for a 4pm first serve. The address is as follows: 6601 W. College Drive, Palos Heights, Ill. 60463 | DeVos Gymnasium |

Cougar fans stay updated with all events and recaps with USF Athletics by visiting saintfranciscougars.com or by downloading the Saint Francis Cougars app.

-USF Athletics-