ASHLAND, Ohio – The Ashland volleyball team took to the road on Saturday (Oct. 2) morning and picked up a 3-1 (25-17, 25-21, 23-25, 25-20) win at NAIA No. 9 Taylor University in Upland, Ind.
The Eagles (10-4, 5-3 GLIAC) won the first two sets before dropping the third set, 25-23. Ashland rebounded, though, earning a 25-20 win in the fourth set.
AU has won five straight matches and seven of its last eight since Sept. 11.
Sophomore Brittany Snider (Olmsted Falls, Ohio) totaled 22 kills and hit .288 in the match to lead the Eagles. She added 21 digs on the defensive end. Meanwhile, junior Anesia Benton (Lodi, Ohio/Senior) hit .350 for the match with nine kills in 20 tries with just two errors.
Senior Sophie Paddock (Girard, Ohio/Hubbard) had five kills in 13 attacks. Sophomore Crystal Elliott (Canal Winchester, Ohio) had 44 assists to lead the Eagles.
The Eagles were strong defensively, totaling six team blocks and holding Taylor to just .133 hitting. Freshman Baley Bernthisel (Grand Rapids, Ohio/Otsego) had four total blocks (one solo, three assisted) and Benton had four assisted blocks.
Junior Arian Martin (Independence, Ohio) finished with 15 digs and Elliott had 10. Senior Lauren Schweitzer (Dublin, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) had 11 digs.
Ashlyn DeHoogh and Kelsey Pritchard had 13 kills apiece to lead the Trojans. Betsy Brown had 38 assists.
Ashland opens a three-match GLIAC North road trip on Thursday (Oct. 7) with a 7 p.m. match at Grand Valley State.
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