Albion Athletics: Weekend Recap

Photo courtesy of Albion Athletics.

This past weekend, football, volleyball, women’s golf and both soccer teams represented Albion on their respective playing fields. The women’s volleyball team won their conference and home opener against Trine, and with two victories over the weekend, the men’s soccer team is off to their best start since 2011.

Football

It was a battle of purple and gold this past Saturday at Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium. Only this time, the purple and gold of Albion College walked away with a loss.

The Britons fell to the Pointers of UW-Stevens Point by a final score of 33-19. The Britons now move to 0-2 on the young season.

Despite a slow start for both teams, the Britons were able to end the first quarter with the lead, thanks to a field goal from junior Andrew Fabry, the first of his two on the day. However, the Pointers would come out swinging in the second, building a 14-3 lead before halftime.  

The Britons were finally able to flex their offensive muscles in the third quarter. Junior running back Zach Serzo surged 29 yards to put Albion within two points of the Pointers. Minutes later, first-year quarterback Kyle Thomas hooked up with Kyle Winchell to give the team its first lead since the end of the first quarter, 20-16.

However, the Pointers continued to charge. Ryan Swigert threw for 66 yards in the fourth quarter to build a 33-19 lead. Their momentum would ultimately be too much for the Britons.

Thomas led Albion in both passing and running, racking up 112 and 127 yards respectively. Senior Jose Rodriguez led the defense with 16 tackles.

The Britons will return to Sprankle-Sprandel next Saturday, September 16, to take on another Wisconsin squad in Concordia University.

Volleyball

On Friday, September 8, an energetic crowd filled Kresge Gymnasium as the Brits took down the Trine University Thunder in four sets, 25-20, 22-25, 25-8 and 25-21.

Albion went up 11-7 in the first set before Trine took their first timeout. After being down 7-5, the Brits rallied for five straight points, but the Thunder came storming back to pull within two. Albion took their first timeout leading by 19-16 and hung on to take the first set, 25-20.

In the second set, Trine got off to a quick start going up 7-3. Albion came back to go up 11-10, but after being down 22-14, the Brits eventually made it 23-22 and Trine held on to win the set, 25-22.

The Brits took an early 10-4 lead in the third set and picked up a relatively easy 25-8 set victory.

Albion carried that third set momentum into the fourth as they opened the set on an 8-2 run. However, Trine rallied to pull within one, but it wasn’t enough as the Brits took the fourth set, 25-21, and won the match.

Monica Shuk led the team with 28 digs, Grace VanDorn had 29 assists and Kelsey Gustafson had 11 kills for the match. Sophomore Richelle Hawkins had six aces, which is just one shy of the Albion College record for a four-set match.

The Brits traveled to Olivet College on Saturday, September 9, to square off against both Olivet and Manchester University. Against Olivet, the Brits won the first set, but Olivet picked up the next three to take the match 19-25, 25-23, 25-18 and 25-19.

Junior Taylor Rosenthal had 12 kills and junior Marie Pregenzer tallied 11 kills and six block assists.

The Brits luck against Manchester would be just the same as they lost in four sets, 25-18, 25-23, 13-25 and 26-24.

Gustafson tied her career high with 16 kills, and Pregenzer added 15 kills.

After the matches this weekend, Shuk is now second on Albion’s career digs list with 1,319. She trails only Haley Gitre (13’) who tops the list with 1,334 digs.

Men’s Soccer

On Saturday, September 9, the Brits faced a strong team in Marian University. After a quiet game, senior Kyle Bourlier scored on a penalty kick with 14 minutes to play to give Albion a 1-0 victory.

First-year goalkeeper Maximilian Loria had two saves and earned his first shutout of his collegiate career.

The team was back in action on Sunday, September 10, against Lawrence University.

In the first half, goals from first-year Kay Whitmore and junior Christian Hurtado put Albion ahead 2-0. However, Lawrence would come back to tie the game in the second half, but Bourlier scored on a free kick in the 66th minute that proved to be the difference maker in the Britons 3-2 victory.

Whitmore has scored a goal in three of the four matches this season.

Women’s Soccer

On Saturday, September 9, Albion visited Trine University to face the Thunder. While the Brits outshot the Thunder 20-7, a goal from senior Jenna Urso ultimately lifted Albion to a 1-0 victory.

Urso had three shots on goal for Albion, and senior goalkeeper Maggie Troost made four saves to pick up her second shutout of the season.

Women’s Golf

At the Kyle Campbell Classic on Saturday, September 9, junior Megan Moco shot a round of 80 to lead the Brits to a ninth place finish. Her round of 80 was just one shy of her collegiate best.

Junior Madison Kroetsch had rounds of 84 and 87 for a 171 total, which was good to be tied for 15th overall.

About Andrew Wittland 47 Articles
Andrew is a Senior who was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Mich. When he is not avidly writing for the Pleiad, you can find him running for the cross country and track teams or hanging out with friends around campus. His favorite sports teams include Michigan State football and basketball, any Detroit team, and Tottenham Hotspur FC

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