The Ashland University volleyball team put forth an efficient offensive showing as the Eagles opened GLIAC play with a sweep of Purdue Northwest, 25-17, 26-24, 25-18, on Friday (Sept. 20) night at Kates Gymnasium.
The Eagles (8-2, 1-0 GLIAC) have now won four straight and improved to 6-0 at home on the season.
Ashland trailed, 6-3, early in the first set, but a kill by redshirt-junior Lexi Lombardo stopped the run and the Eagles took their first lead of the match at 9-8 on a PNW error. Ashland never trailed in the set after that, holding the Pride (2-6, 0-1 GLIAC) to a minus-.034 hitting percentage.
The second set was close throughout and the teams were still tied at 24 as the Eagles could not put away set point there. AU put the set away on a smashed kill by sophomore Erin Krupar, followed by a Purdue Northwest error.
The Eagles had no issues in the third set, hitting .344 and putting down 15 kills to win the match. Senior Sophi Cudworth had five kills of her eight kills in the frame, while junior McKinley Smith had nine of her team-high 15 digs.
Redshirt-junior Brooke Peiffer had a match-high 12 kills (.258), while Lombardo had 11 kills (.688) without committing an error.
Redshirt-freshman Chelsey Farris was in on a team-leading five blocks in the match, while sophomore Zoey Peck handed out 38 assists.
Bryanna Moonen led the Pride with 10 kills.
The Eagles will return to the floor on Saturday (Sept. 21) at 2 p.m. against Parkside at Kates Gymnasium.
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