The Ashland University volleyball team stretched its winning streak to eight on Tuesday (Oct. 30) night with a 25-21, 25-20, 29-27 win over in-region foe Tiffin at Kates Gymnasium.
The Eagles (24-5) have won their last six matches in straight sets and have not lost a set since a 3-1 win over Hillsdale on Oct. 13.
Ashland never trailed in the opening set, though the Dragons (19-10) cut their deficit down to 20-19 after trailing by as many as four. The Eagles then scored the next three points to pull away with a kill by freshman Erin Krupar, an ace by freshman Zoey Peck and a kill by junior Sophi Cudworth. A hitting error by Tiffin's Kyley Keene gave Ashland the win.
In Set 2, the Eagles raced out to an 11-5 lead and never looked back, hitting .448 in the frame.
The Dragons looked like they would snap Ashland's sweep streak in the third set, going out to a 13-5 advantage before AU head coach Kevin Foeman called timeout.
After that, the Eagles reeled off the next five points with senior Reanne Neal serving. The Eagles still trailed by an 18-15 margin, but finally tied the set at 20 on a Krupar kill. AU took its first lead on a kill by Cudworth to make it 22-21.
The Dragons scored the next three to get to set point, but the Eagles fought off two set points – the last on an error by Tiffin. Jenna Huffman's kill gave the visitors another set point, but junior Shelby Woycik put down a kill to tie it at 25.
The Dragons then fought off two set points, but the Eagles put them away with Neal's kill and a block by Neal and Krupar at 29-27.
Woycik led the Eagles with 12 kills (.194) while Krupar added 11 kills (.182). Both had double-doubles with 15 and 14 digs, respectively. Cudworth added eight kills and hit .350 while Ping chipped in eight kills (.192).
As a team, Ashland hit .214 and held Tiffin to a .140 mark.
Peck handed out 38 assists and senior libero Kaitlin Bean finished with 14 digs.
Huffman led the Dragons with 15 kills (.343) and five blocks.
The Eagles will close the regular season on Saturday (Nov. 3) at 2 p.m. when they play Wayne State at Kates Gymnasium.
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