After winning the Ohio Valley Conference tournament, Lindenwood women’s volleyball got an invite to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship due to not being eligible for the NCAA tournament because of the university athletics still being in a “period of transition” as they transition from the D-II to D-I level.
Lindenwood faced off against the University of Nebraska at Omaha and fell 3-2 in a five set thriller of a match. Three different Lions tallied double-digit kills in the match, led by Ashley Geluck and Nyah Wilson who both tallied 12. Rebecca Janke ended her Lion career with 11 kills, and became the all-time leading kills leader in Lindenwood Lions history finishing her career with 1,094 and 346 total blocks. Wilson ended her career with 991 kills in her Lions career. Allie Otten had 36 assists marking the 27th time she has posted over 30 assists in a match this season. Otten also grabbed 10 digs for her 25th double-double of the season. Jessie Seidel led the way defensively with 16 digs. As a team, Lindenwood had 52 digs and six blocks. Seidel leaves Lindenwood as the all-time leader in digs with 2,339 and the all-time leader in aces with 157. Dana Grib also contributed nine digs and one ace. It was a battle at the service line as each team had eight aces. The Lions, led by Addy McAleer had four, while five different Lions recorded an ace. Lindenwood recorded 11 service errors compared to the 20 the Mavericks had which helped Lindenwood take the match to five sets. It tied Omaha’s most service errors in a match this season.
Omaha got off to a hot start opening up the match with a convincing 25-14 set 1 win. The set was tied at 9-9 before Omaha went on a 9-1 run growing their lead to 18-10 and they never looked back. Omaha was paced by Kali Jurgensmeier and Amanda Hardt who had 6 and 5 kills apiece. Wilson paced the Lions with four kills as Omaha outhit the Lions .423-.040.
Lindenwood got right back in the match in the second set as Lindenwood never trailed en route to a 25-19 set two win. Lindenwood jumped out to a 7-2 lead and never looked back. Geluck led the Lions with four kills as Janke and Autumn Bax each had three. Lindenwood held the Mavericks to a .103 hit percentage in the second set.
Lindenwood took a 2-1 advantage in the match after a 25-21 set three win. The set saw 15 ties and 13 lead changes. Lindenwood led 15-13 before Omaha stormed back and claimed an 18-17 lead. Then with the match tied at 20, the Lions would go on a 5-1 run to close out the set. Kills from Janke, McAleer, and an ace from McAleer closed out the set. Lindenwood was helped out by seven service aces by the Mavericks compared to only three by the Lions and four aces from Lindenwood. Janke paced the Lions with five kills as they were held to a .077 hit percentage but found a way to get it done.
Omaha responded by taking the fourth set 25-20 and sending this match to a pivotal 5th set. The set was tied 12-12 before the Mavericks went on a 7-4 run. Lindenwood responded by getting within two at 20-18 but Omaha was able to close out the set on a 5-2 run. Six different Lions recorded a kill in the set led by Geluck’s four. Janke and Wilson each had three but the Lions again only held to a .182 hit percentage and couldn’t opportunities when they presented themselves.
Lindenwood was 5-2 in five set matches but just ran out of steam as Omaha took set 5 15-13 and won the match. Both teams traded blows before Omaha went on a 5-2 run to grab an early 9-6 forcing Lindenwood to call a timeout. The Lions would roar back getting to within one twice at 12-11 and 14-13 but an Emily Huss kill won the match for the Mavericks and officially ended the Lions season. Geluck had three kills in the final set but the Lions were unable to capitalize on 3 service errors by the Mavericks. Lindenwood ends the 2024 season at 23-11, their most win in a season since 2011.
