SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Luren Baylon capped her star-studded Iowa Wesleyan College career with a mammoth final match, but the Tigers came up empty in the win column during its two-day stay at the 2005 NAIA National Volleyball Tournament at Point Loma Nazarene University.
The Tigers fell in four games to 20th-ranked Point Loma Nazarene – 30-25, 30-27, 23-30, 30-15 – Thursday night. IWC concluded pool play with an 0-4 record and finished the season 22-13 under first-year coach Brian Dickens. The Tigers dropped their earlier match Thursday to Missouri Baptist University in three games.
Baylon (Lima, Peru), the Midwest Classic Conference and Region VII Player of the Year, blasted 31 kills with a .315 attack percentage in the finale. It was the fourth time in her last seven matches she reached the 30-kill mark. The senior middle hitter connected on 31-of-73 attempts with eight hitting errors. Baylon also had a team-high three blocks.
Baylon finished with 70 kills in four matches at nationals, averaging 5.0 spikes per game.
Senior setter Tina Kruckenberg (Iowa Falls, IA) delivered 57 assists. Senior Amanda Kruger (McLean, IL) led the team with 28 digs and added 10 kills. Tiffany Bauer (Naperville, IL) and Michelle Sieler (Newton, IA) both had eight kills.
Point Loma Nazarene took advantage of 12 service aces and 23 blocks in the victory.
The Tigers finished 2-2 in in pool play last season in their first-ever trip to the national tournament.
For more information regarding the IWC volleyball program or any of the Tiger athletic teams, contact sports information director Kerry Kahl (319-385-6306 phone; 319-385-6384 FAX; kkahl@iwc.edu e-mail) or log on to IWC's web page at www.iwc.edu.