The Ashland University volleyball team (13-7, 6-5 GLIAC) traveled to Illinois for the GLIAC-GLVC Crossover Tournament last weekend. The Eagles started off slow losing to Northern Kentucky, but rebounded to defeat Missouri S&T and then Southern Indiana.

Northern Kentucky

The Northern Kentucky Norse got the best of AU, defeating the Eagles in straight sets, 25-21, 25-17, 25-23. Offensively, Ashland just didn’t have it in this one. The first set looked like a possible blow-out until AU made a late rally pulling to within three points, 24-21 but the Norse finished off the set with a kill by Shelby Buschur.

Ashland took that late first set momentum into the second set but to no avail. The second set was very competitive as AU took a 12-11 lead thanks to an NKU attacking error. Unfortunately for Ashland, that would be the last time they led as the Norse held AU to only five more points in the set.

Set number three was the most competitive since neither team could stretch a big lead. Tied at 23-23, NKU put Ashland away thanks to a service error on Ashland’s part and the final kill by the Norse.

The Norse held AU to a hitting percentage of .077 with only 27 total team kills. Junior defensive specialist Arian Martin led both teams with 14 digs. Northern Kentucky finished with 40 total kills and a hitting percentage of .263.

Missouri S&T

Not long after the loss to Northern Kentucky, Ashland turned things around by defeating Missouri S&T Friday in straight sets, (29-27, 25-15, 25-22).

The combo of Kate Eckels, Brittany Snyder and Anesia Benton was too much for the Miners to handle. Eckels led everyone with a career-high 18 kills followed by Snyder with 16 while Benton added 11 kills. As a team, AU improved from earlier in the day against NKU by hitting .339 for the match.

The first set was tight throughout as both teams wouldn’t give in. The opening set stretched to 29-27 before Ashland could claim victory. The Eagles took care of business in the second set, winning easily before competing in a close third and final set.

Defensively, Benton shined with a season-high six blocks. Snyder, Eckels and Martin all had double-digit digs. Sophomore setter Crystal Elliott finished with a match-high 46 assists helping to lead the Eagles to victory.

Southern Indiana

The final match of the GLIAC-GLVC Crossover Tournament for AU was the most strenuous but the most satisfying. It took five sets to decide the victor, but Ashland finally edged out the Screaming Eagles 17-25, 25-15, 26-24, 18-25, 15-13.

Snyder led everyone with 21 kills followed by Benton who finished with a hitting percentage of .382 and 17 kills. As a team, AU totaled 69 kills for a hitting percentage of .301.

Despite going five sets, only the third and fifth held doubt for who would come out on top. The third set was highly entertaining due to seven lead changes. Tied at 24-24, Ashland got the final lead change it needed when Southern Indiana committed two costly errors giving the set to AU.

The Eagles dug themselves into a hole to start off the fifth set, but luckily had the shovel to dig themselves out of the 5-1 deficit. AU came back to tie the set up at 10-10 and then took over. Three Snyder kills, a miscue by Southern Indiana and the final kill by Benton ended any chance of a loss for the Eagles.

USI hit .282 as a team, led by Danielle LaGrange, who finished with 17 kills in 33 attacks with just four errors.

Next for Ashland is six consecutive home matches starting Friday when Northwood (9-10, 6-6 GLIAC) comes to Ashland.