Published: October 22, 2009 12:02 am         

Hanover volleyball hands Rose its first HCAC loss

Hanover College handed Rose-Hulman its first volleyball Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference defeat of the season with a five-set win on Wednesday night.

Hanover captured a 25-27, 25-17, 25-17, 22-25, 15-7 victory over the Engineers on the team’s annual Rally Against Cancer Night.

More than 20 cancer survivors from the Wabash Valley Cancer Survivors Organization were honored for their achievements in a pre-game ceremony.

Junior Amanda Jevons led the balanced Rose-Hulman offense with 12 kills.

Freshman Anna Lewer added 11 kills and sophomore Karah Hickman pitched in with nine kills.

Sophomore Leah Pelzel added a team-high 40 assists.

Four Engineers reached double figures in digs, highlighted by Lewer and junior Samantha Gregory with 19 each. Senior Kate Sernett had 15 digs and Pelzel added 13.

Rose-Hulman blocking attack contributed 13 solo and two assisted blocks on the evening. Jevons recorded six blocks, with sophomore Morgan Williams contributing four.

Rose-Hulman returns to action with three matches on Saturday. The Engineers open the day at Mount St. Joseph at 10 a.m., then travel to the Thomas More Invitational for a pair of matches. The Engineers stand 18-8 overall and 4-1 in HCAC play.