Ashland was faced with a tough challenge last week, having to travel to Michigan for matches against Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan. The Eagles were up for the challenge and defeated both teams.

Head coach Cass Dixon was pleased with how her team was able to perform on the road.

“I was impressed with how ready we were to play, especially the first night against Michigan Tech,” said Dixon. “It was a long trip. You never know how their legs and their bodies are going to feel after that trip, but we came out really strong right from the start.”

AU played Michigan Tech on Friday and won in straight sets (25-18, 25-20, 25-23).

Senior Samantha Zuber and junior Alli Cudworth both led the team in kills with 11 in the match.

Zuber also had five blocks while freshman Kaitlin Bean tallied 15 digs with junior Casey Clark not far behind getting 14.

Michigan Tech was a hot team in the GLIAC, coming into the game with an impressive 10-1 record.

“Tech is a great team, off to the best start they have had in school history,” said Dixon. “Being able to go up there and win the way that we did was really good for us to know that we can step up to a challenge against a team that is hot right now.”

Ashland had a much different match against Northern Michigan, with AU having to go the full five sets, but the Eagles were able to grind out a victory (22-25, 27-25, 25-16, 16-25, 15-12).

It was a tight game going into the final set with it being tied late, but the Eagles were able to finish on a roll, tying up the game even after Northern began with a dominating 7-2 lead.

“It was 10 to 10 in the fifth set and we turned it on and played really well,” Dixon said.

Bean led the team in digs again with 16 and junior Mallory Slyder was second on the team with 15.

Cudworth led the team in kills with 17. Her performance in those two matches helped her win the GLIAC South Division’s player of the week for week four.

It is already the second time she has won the award this season, also winning it the first week of the season.

Playing this type of game against Northern Michigan is something that Coach Dixon and the AU squad is familiar with.

“With Northern Michigan, it’s always a battle, no matter what. Every time we have played Northern Michigan, it has been a battle. We’ve never gotten away with a three set win, It’s always been four or five every time. It came down to that. I think that will not only help our confidence, but it also helps us in moving forward against some other quality teams in the GLIAC.”

After the successful road trip, the Eagles started the first of a five-match home stand, with a victory against Lake Erie on Tuesday. It was another straight set win for AU (25-23, 25-11, 25- 22).

Cudworth continued her great play Tuesday with 18 kills, a team high, and 10 digs as well. Clark also had an impressive game for the Eagles, contributing with 10 kills and a team high 13 digs.

Junior Rylee Scott also had played well and ended the game with 10 kills.

The home stand continues Friday Oct. 2 as they take on Lake Superior State at 7:00p.m.