Valparaiso University

The Valpo volleyball team made quick work of host Bradley Saturday evening in Peoria, Ill., taking care of the Braves in straight sets (25-19, 25-18, 25-22).
 
How It Happened

• Valpo jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the opening set, thanks in large part to two early kills and a block from Jessica Pickett (Carmel, Ind./Carmel).
• The Beacons never trailed in the frame, led 15-9 at the technical timeout and maintained at least a four-point lead the rest of the way. On their first set point opportunity, Pickett combined with Jordyn Gove (Amarillo, Texas/Randall) on a rejection to give Valpo the lead in the match.
• Again, Valpo never found itself behind in the second set, but it did stay tight for a bit longer. The Beacons' advantage was just one point at 11-10 before a 9-1 run, including two kills apiece by Sarah Pippin (Niles, Mich./Edwardsburg) and Kyla Bellich (Thomson, Ill./Prince of Peace Catholic), gave them plenty of breathing room. On their second set point chance, Ava Helming (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) picked up a kill to put the Beacons ahead 2-0 in the match.
• For the first time in the match, the Beacons trailed in the third set, forcing them to use an early timeout down 8-4. Out of the stoppage, four straight points leveled the score, and while Bradley pulled back ahead 11-9, Valpo flipped the script with a 7-0 run on the serve of Olivia Wagner (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South) to take control.
• Valpo held as much as a five-point lead late, sitting at 22-17 just three points away from the win, but the Braves scored five of the next six to close to within 23-22 and force a timeout. Out of the timeout, Bradley committed a service error to give Valpo match point, and Helming sent the Beacons home happy with a service ace.

 
Inside the Match

• Saturday's win was Valpo's ninth consecutive in its series with Bradley, but the way it happened was unusual, as six of the previous eight — including both last season — required the full five sets.
• This was Valpo's first 3-0 win over Bradley since the spring of 2021 and its first sweep in Peoria since 2017, the program's first season in the MVC.
• The win snapped the Beacons' season-long five-match losing streak.
• The balanced effort was paced by Helming, who posted a team-best 10 kills and a match-high 15 digs — just one off her career high — for her ninth double-double of the year.
• Helming has reached double figures in kills in 12 consecutive matches. Dating back to last season, she has tallied at least 10 kills in 16 straight regular season MVC contests.
• Helming ends the weekend with 998 career kills, leaving her just two shy of becoming the 21^st player in program history to hit the 1,000-kill milestone.
• The Beacons had five hitters finish the match between six and 10 kills. Pippin and Pickett racked up eight kills each, with Pickett picking up a team-best five blocks as well. Gove tacked up seven kills to go with 10 digs, while Bellich needed just seven swings for a career-high six kills.
• Mia McCall (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) dished out 16 assists, while Wagner recorded 14 assists.
• While the Beacons held just a slim 41-40 edge in kills over the Braves, they outhit the hosts .208-.122, committing nine fewer attack errors.
• Valpo also avoided mistakes on both sides of the service game. When it came to delivering the serves, it committed just two service errors — its second-lowest total this year.
• Meanwhile, on the reception side, the Beacons received 57 serves without committing an error. It was the first time this season Valpo has held its opponent without a service ace.

 
Next Up
The road-heavy stretch continues next weekend for Valpo (12-12, 4-8 MVC), as the Beacons visit their Hoosier State counterparts. The weekend begins Friday evening at 5 p.m. CT at Indiana State, with the match being played at the Hulman Center.