The Ashland University volleyball team opened its season with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-13) rout of visiting Urbana in the Eagles' first match of the Quality Inn Ashland University Tournament at Kates Gymnasium.
The Eagles fired on all cylinders in the win, hitting .367 (41 kills, eight errors, 90 attacks) while holding the Blue Knights to just 18 kills and a .000 hitting percentage.
Sophomore outside hitter Shelby Woycik totaled 17 kills and hit .536 in the match while adding nine digs and two aces.
The Eagles led by just a point, 11-10, in the first set, but scored the next eight points with junior defensive specialist Kaitlyn Bean on the serve to take control of the set.
The second set was tied at 11 before Ashland reeled off eight of the next nine points on the serves of Bean and sophomore middle Sophi Cudworth to give the home team a 19-12 lead. Kills by Woycik and redshirt-sophomore middle Michaela Ping clinched the set.
In the third, the Eagles held the Blue Knights to minus-.091 hitting and compiled a .391 hitting percentage on the offensive side to close the match.
Junior middle Reanne Neal racked up nine kills (.500) and added five blocks and four aces for Ashland. Ping totaled six kills (.250) and Cudworth added five kills (.286). Senior libero Melanie Aguayo led the back row with 15 digs and Bean pulled up 11 attacks.
No Blue Knights players had more than four kills in the match while Courtney Niesen had a match-high 18 digs.
The Eagles will square off with Truman State later Friday (Sept. 1) at 7 p.m. at Kates Gymnasium.
AU
VB/BB
