Dixie State: Women's volleyball team ends homestand on a high note

ST. GEORGE — The Dixie State College women's volleyball team won their last matches at home over Dominican University. They swept a pair of matches and improved to 16-7 overall and 10-4 in Pacific West Conference play.

For senior outside hitter Katie Luna, time went by all too quickly as she and fellow senior setter Chelsi Dewitt played their final home matches in a Red Storm uniform last weekend.

"It's very bittersweet," said Luna, an integrated studies major from Mesa, Ariz. "I've been very fortunate. It is sad. The season has gone by way too fast."

Head coach Gregg Jensen said Dixie's two seniors are starting to understand their careers are coming to a close. He said the reality is setting in.

"The seniors are finally figuring that it's almost over and don't want it to end," Jensen said. "We were talking about how next week's road trip to San Francisco is going to be hard, not necessarily the trip there, but the plane ride home."

Led by strong performances from Luna and Dewitt, the Red Storm spikers beat the Penguins easily on Friday night (25-16, 25-15, 25-11). Luna led the team with 13 kills. Sophomore defensive specialist Jayci Jeffress held DU at bay with 17 digs. Dewitt conducted the DSC offense with 34 assists. Dewitt also led the team with three aces.

Freshman outside hitter Brita Noble said the team played together.

"We worked hard and played as a team instead of individually," said Noble, a dental hygiene major from Taylorsville. "We can really go far when we play as a team."

Jensen said he was happy with the Red Storm's stellar passing Friday.

"That was the difference tonight," Jensen said. "We passed the ball so well. We can do anything we want to when we do that."

Dixie State also dominated at the service line. The Red Storm lasered in seven aces as a team.

"We served the right spots and we focused on certain players," Noble said. "We served aggressively."

The following day the Penguins had one more shot at DSC. Although DU played much better, Dixie still dominated and completed the sweep (25-18, 25-22, 25-22).

Alex Shearer, a sophomore right side hitter, led the team with nine kills. Freshman middle blocker Madisyn Fitzgerald and Luna contributed eight more kills each. Dewitt added 28 assists and 14 digs.

"We matched up well with this team," Luna said. "All around it was a test for us to play at a higher level."

Dixie State has finished its home schedule at 6-2. Luna said playing at home is a huge advantage for the Red Storm.

"It's so much easier to play at home," Luna said. "You're more relaxed, you've got the home crowd and your parents. It's just an atmosphere of change when you're on the road."