Spring Break
Kangaroos get big win on road over Jaguars
Dan Stroud
Issue date: 10/6/08 Section: Sports
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Playing in front of former Kansas Jayhawk basketball forward Brandon Rush, now a member of the Indiana Pacers, and past Kangaroo point guard Tim Blackwell, along with more than one hundred fifty Jaguar fans, the Roos won a hard fought match over IUPUI (9-8, 2-2 Summit), 3-2.
UMKC freshmen middle hitter Christiana McQuin and outside hitter Elizabeth Beck led the Kangaroo squad with 15 kills each. Freshman outside hitter Kate Humphreys also scored 12 points while junior outside hitter Jamie Hagerman made the Jaguars eat 10 volleyballs.
"The girls outstanding hitting and blocking offset [Jaguars] great defense," said UMKC Head Volleyball coach Geno Frugoli. "To get a win like this is special."
The Roos won the first game in turbulent fashion 31-29 with the squads experiencing 10 lead changes and 19 ties. The Jags clawed back in games two and three winning 25-19 and 28-26.
Frugoli couldn't talk enough about how strong his team played all evening.
"It feels really good," Frugoli said. "All these little signs that show how much the girls are moving forward really make this a lot of fun."
The coach said he told the team before the match that the game ahead of them was the type that would "built character." He spoke repeatedly about his pride in the effort of his squad.
Frugoli's commitment to a youth movement has at times this season led to five freshmen on the court at once and has frequently proven unpopular and hard for the Roos' faithful to swallow. But a big win on the road can sometimes put things in better perspective.
Along with McQuin, Beck and Humphreys, freshmen middle hitter Brittany Fossier, libero Alexandra Miller and setter Erin Wellwood saw significant action in the victory. They have also contributed heavily to several of the squad's early season defeats.
"We've seen the best of times and the worst of times with these [freshmen], but that makes it all the more interesting," Frugoli said. "When they're all clicking, our squad is hard to beat."
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