The Ashland University women’s volleyball team traveled to Michigan last weekend to play some very stout competition.

The Eagles took on three GLIAC North teams, starting with Grand Valley State this past Friday. AU traveled to Ferris State Saturday and finally made it to Saginaw Valley Sunday. In the GLIAC North, GVSU (10-2) is second, Ferris State (7-5) is third and Saginaw Valley (5-6) is fifth. Ashland lost the first two matches but avoided the sweep, beating Saginaw in straight sets.

GVSU

Ashland’s impressive offense couldn’t find holes in the Lakers’ defense, which held the Eagles to a hitting percentage of .083 for the match. Outside hitter Brittany Snider earned the first of her match-high 14 kills to start set one but GVSU recovered quickly and took the opening set, 25-20.

GVSU jumped out to an early five-point lead to start the second set but AU made a game of it late by pulling within two points, 22-20, before Laker Stacey Catalano shut the door with the final kill. The Eagles dropped the second set, 25-22.

The third set was over when GVSU rattled off seven straight points, taking a 21-17 lead and never looking back. Eno Umoh came up with two big blocks late for the Lakers and Catalano was there for the final kill, yet again securing the straight set win, 25-18. Catalano led the Lakers with 10 kills. Umoh turned the Eagles hitters away eight times, seven of which were solo.

Ferris

Ashland stretched the Bulldogs to five sets but didn’t have enough in the tank after winning two 29-27 sets.

AU libero Arian Martin had a game-high 27 digs, which setter Crystal Elliott used to set up Snyder for a total of 93 times. The sophomore had a game-high 29 kills.

After taking the long first set, Ashland lost the second set, 25-21. The second and third sets were very competitive as neither team could break away. Unfortunately for Eagles fans, Ashland lost both sets.

The fourth set was another long one but the Eagles outlasted the Bulldogs after the final point was decided by a setting error on Ferris’ behalf.

With the stage set and Ashland’s most competitive match coming to a pivotal fifth set, the Eagles never really seemed to get started. Ashland was anything but blown out in the deciding set but came up short.

There was a total of 47 ties and 18 lead changes in the match.

Saginaw

The Eagles (11-6, 6-5 GLIAC) took out some anger and more or less dismissed the Cardinals to snap their short two-game slide.

Ashland took care of business in the first set, winning by 10 points, 25-15. The second set was nothing new as AU extended their margin of victory, winning 25-12. The third set was the most competitive but yet again, Ashland pulled through and won, 25-21.

Lauren Schweitzer led both teams with 10 digs while Arian Martin added eight of her own.

Snyder did pretty well for herself, tallying 27 kills and a hitting percentage of .610. Anesia Benton was 7-for-11, earning a hitting percentage of .545.

Elliott finished with a match-high 40 assists. On the season, she now has 691 assists. Ashland held the Cardinals to a hitting percentage of .096.

The Eagles are back in action Friday and Saturday at Aurora, Ill. for the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover Tournament. They will be facing Northern Kentucky and Missouri S&T Friday and Southern Indiana Saturday.