The Eagles went on the road for their last two matches of the season against Hillsdale and Findlay, but were not able to come out with a victory in either game.

The first loss was against a good Hillsdale team that has 21 wins to only 6 losses on the year.

In the first set it was Ashland that started hot, getting off to an early 10-3 lead. However, Hillsdale was able to respond and come back from the seven point deficit to win the set 25-21.

It was a closer game in the second set. The Chargers had a slight lead for the majority of the set and AU was not able to climb back. Hillsdale took the set 25-22.

The third set started off with Ashland winning the first four points. That start would help them come out on top 25-19 to make it 2-1 in the match.

Ashland would not be able to take it to a fifth set as Hillsdale won the fourth set 25-18 to win the match.

It was a loss to a tough opponent and head coach Cass Dixon saw areas where the team could improve.

“We need to maintain discipline and consistency throughout the plays,” said Dixon.

Two Eagles finished the match with double-digit kills. Junior Alli Cudworth ended up with 13 kills and senior Audrey Metzger had 12 on the day.

Freshman Kaitlin Bean led AU in digs with 20. Behind Bean were junior Casey Clark with 13 and Cudworth with 12.

Ashland’s game against Findlay was a closer match and would go all five sets to determine a victor.

The Eagles were able to strike first in the match, winning the first set 25-20. AU was able to go on a run to win the set despite trailing 11-15.

The next two sets were taken by Findlay 25-18 and 25-14 to jump out to a 2-1 lead in the match. In both sets Findlay would get their lead, not fool around and win the sets before AU could try to come back.

The fourth set was a close one with the teams being separated by no more than two points for the second half of the set. The Eagles would get the 25 point courtesy a block from senior Samantha Zuber and Clark to get the 25-23 win.

The fifth set would decide who would leave the gym with another win on the record. 

The set got off to an 8-8 start. 

The Oilers then went on a run to take the set and the match with a 15-10 win. 

“We gave a good fight,” said Dixon. “We played real well and things didn’t fall our way when we need them to fall our way, but the level at which we competed was really strong.”

Clark led AU in kills with 17 and Cudworth was right behind her with 15. 

Bean and junior Mallory Slyder led the team in digs with 11 and respectively.

The Eagles qualified for the GLIAC tournament, making it as a five seed. This means they will go on the road to play number four Grand Valley State.

Although the Eagles sort of limped to the finish line, losing four of the last five games of the season, Dixon has a good feeling going into the tournament.

“You always look at the conference tournament as a new season. It’s a new opportunity to go out and use everything you have learned throughout the season and put it all out there,” said Dixon. “The expectation is to go out and compete and I think we can come out on the winning side of it if we do that.”

Ashland played Grand Valley at home earlier in the season and won the match 3-1. 

The Eagles will take them on Wednesday November 18.