Sophomore outside hitter Shelby Woycik recorded career highs in kills and digs to lead an efficient Ashland offense past Lake Erie in four sets, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 25-17, on Saturday (Sept. 2) afternoon in the Quality Inn Ashland University Tournament at Kates Gymnasium.
The Eagles (3-0) will now face Pitt-Johnstown (3-0) in the de facto championship match of the event on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Woycik dominated in all facets of the match, putting down 26 kills and picking up 12 digs while hitting .411. She committed just three errors in the match as the Eagles hit .282 as a team. Junior setter Kayla Pfeiffer also contributed a double-double with 51 assists and 12 digs.
The Eagles won the first set and held a 22-18 lead in the second frame before the Storm (2-2) rallied for the next six points to take a 24-22 lead. A kill by junior middle Reanne Neal stopped the run, but Lake Erie evened the match at one set apiece on a kill by Bethany Fisher.
Ashland held off Lake Erie in the third set for a 25-23 win before holding the Storm to a .159 hitting percentage in the final set to seal the win. The Eagles committed just five errors in the final two sets combined.
Sophomore middle Michaela Ping chipped in 13 kills and hit .435 while Neal filled the stat sheet with 11 kills (.360), seven blocks and six digs.
The Eagles were a force at the net, leading the Storm in blocks 11-6.
Fisher led Lake Erie with 15 kills and Brooke Pfeiffer and Courtney Rosebrook added 12 kills each.
AU
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