Women’s Volleyball Wraps Up 2025 Campaign at Lyon

BATESVILLE, Ark. – The Eureka women's volleyball team wrapped up its 2025 campaign on Saturday with a pair of conference losses to Lyon and Blackburn.

Game 1: Lyon 3, Eureka 0

In the opener, the Red Devils (7-17, 2-11 SLIAC) were swept by Lyon (13-14, 6-7 SLIAC), falling 25-12, 28-26, 25-20.

Eureka started strong with a quick 2-0 lead in the first set, but Lyon quickly seized momentum and dominated the rest of the frame. The second set was a back-and-forth battle, with Eureka leading most of the way until Lyon tied it at 18-18. The Scots took their first lead at 21-20, but Eureka responded with set points at 24-23 and 26-25. Lyon ultimately closed the set with three straight points to take a 2-0 lead. In the third, Lyon jumped ahead early, but Eureka rallied to tie it at 17-17 before Lyon finished on an 8-3 run to complete the sweep.

Hallee Gauna (Arcola, Ill./Arcola) and Alyssa Company (Lincoln, Ill./Lincoln Community) led Eureka with seven kills each. Company also recorded three blocks, while Gauna added two. Brooklyn Shell (Evansville, Ind./Mount Vernon) contributed five kills and seven digs. Kaitlyn Robinson (Macomb, Ill./Macomb) dished out 14 assists and added three digs. Claire Schaffner (Delavan, Ill./Delavan) chipped in five assists and three digs, and Maleaha Nagel (Abingdon, Ill./Abingdon-Avon) posted two kills and three digs.

Game 2: Blackburn 3, Eureka 0

In the second match, Eureka (7-18, 2-12 SLIAC) fell to Blackburn (12-15, 7-6 SLIAC) in straight sets: 30-28, 25-16, 25-21.

The opening set was a thriller, featuring 18 ties and 11 lead changes. Eureka surged ahead late, taking a 27-26 lead after a service ace by Cloee O'Donoghue (Emden, Ill./Hartsburg-Emden) and again led 28-27 following a kill by Shell. However, Blackburn responded with three consecutive points to steal the set. The Beavers carried that momentum into the second, opening with an ealy 7-0 run to take a 10-3 lead and cruising to a 25-16 win. Eureka battled back in the third, taking a 17-15 lead, but Blackburn closed the match with a decisive 10-4 run.

Shell paced Eureka with 10 kills and 17 digs, while Nagel added nine kills and three digs. Gauna chipped in eight kills and a block, and Company matched her with eight kills and six digs. Robinson led the team with 18 assists and six digs, while Schaffner added 14 assists and tied for a team-high 21 digs. O'Donoghue recorded three service aces and also tallied 21 digs.

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Saturday marked the end of the season for the Red Devils and the final collegiate matches for seniors Brooklyn Shell, Claire Schaffner, and Hallee Gauna. It was also the final match for senior Frannie Heckman (Benson, Ill./Roanoke-Benson), who was sidelined due to injury and unable to play.