Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Wichita
State fell in three sets to Creighton in the title match of the Missouri Valley
Conference Tournament Saturday evening in Springfield, Mo. The Shockers fell by
scores of 18-25, 20-25, 23-25.
Chelsey Feekin led Wichita State (22-9) with 21 assists, 14
digs, and seven kills. Ashlyn Driskill had a team high nine kills.
With the first set tied, 5-5, Creighton (28-3) reeled off a
6-2 run to take an 11-7 lead with a pair of kills from Kelli Browning. A kill by Driskill followed by a
service ace from Feekin narrowed the Bluejay lead to 11-9. Creighton again
extended their lead to 16-12 before the Shockers went on a 4-1 run to close
within one, 17-16, on consecutive kills from Feekin and Driskill forcing a
Creighton timeout. Out of the timeout the Bluejays scored three consecutive
points and eight of the final ten to close out the set. Driskill paced the
Shockers with six kills on 13 attempts.
Wichita State responded early in the second set racing out
to a 4-1 lead on a block from Feekin and Elizabeth Field. Creighton, the MVC
regular season champion, fought back to take a 7-6 lead on a kill by Leah
McNary. The Bluejays kept the pressure on WSU, pulling away to take a 15-11
lead on three straight Shocker attack errors into the media timeout. A block by
Andrade and Driskill capped off a 7-3 run that tied the match, 18-18. Creighton
again was able to counter the building Shocker momentum and closed the set on a
7-2 run. Feekin led Wichita State with three kills and five assists.
The Shockers got three kills from Andrade and a pair each
from Field and Feekin on their way to building a 14-9 lead in the third set. Wichita
State gained their largest lead of the set, 19-12, on consecutive kills from
Katie Reilly and Adney. Creighton however, answered again with a late 13-4 rally
to take the set, 25-23.
McNary and Melanie Jereb had 11 and 10 kills, respectively, for Creighton.
Feekin and Field were each named to the All-tournament team
for Wichita State.
The Shockers will now wait for Sunday's Selection Show on
ESPNU at 3:00 p.m. (CST) to find out if they have made the NCAA Tournament.
-WICHITA STATE-
