Ashland University's volleyball team began a five-match homestand on Tuesday (Sept. 29) night in convincing fashion, defeating Lake Erie, 3-0 (25-23, 25-11, 25-22) at Kates Gymnasium.
The Eagles, owners of a three-match winning streak, are 9-4 overall and 4-1 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Storm fall to 4-7, 0-5.
"Of course, it's nice to be at home," said Ashland head coach Cass Dixon. "It's a good win. Lake Erie is very much improved. They play hard."
Junior outside hitter Alli Cudworth, the reigning GLIAC South Division Player of the Week, had a team-high 18 kills and added 10 digs for her third double-double of the season. Junior outside hitter Casey Clark and junior middle blocker/right-side hitter Rylee Scott each added 10 kills, while Clark led AU with 13 digs for her fifth double-double of the campaign.
Juniors Mallory Slyder (28 assists) and Katie Siefert (15) shared the Eagle setting duties, helping Ashland to a season-high team hitting percentage of .304.
Freshman middle blocker Reanne Neal, playing her first two collegiate sets on Tuesday, recorded five kills, a hitting percentage of .429 and three block assists.
"She did a fantastic job," Dixon said of Neal. "Sometimes, matches present themselves where you can get other people in on the floor. It was the perfect opportunity, and she really took advantage of it."
AU will continue its homestand on Friday (Oct. 2) at 7 p.m. against Lake Superior State and on Saturday (Oct. 3) at 2 p.m. against Northwood.
"We have some really tough matches that are coming up before we get to the (Midwest Region) Crossover," Dixon said. "Today was just one step closer to getting us there."
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