INDIANAPOLIS – The Ashland University volleyball team was efficient offensively and won the final three sets on its way to a 24-26, 25-13, 25-23, 25-20 win over Tiffin on Friday (Oct. 17) afternoon in the first match of the Midwest Region Crossover.
The Eagles (16-4) hit .304 in the match, their third-highest hitting percentage of the season, in the victory.
Redshirt-junior Brooke Peiffer put down a career-high 25 kills in the effort and hit .246 overall with 16 digs. Meanwhile, sophomore setter Zoey Peck nearly posted a triple-double with 47 assists, a career-high nine kills and eight digs.
After dropping the first set, the Eagles hit .444 in the second frame to take an easy win. In the third set, Ashland halted a late Tiffin rally after getting to set point at 24-19. The Dragons (11-9) scored the next four points before a cross-court smash by senior Sophi Cudworth off a set by junior McKinley Smith ended the set.
The Eagles narrowly led the fourth set, 21-20, but two kills by Peiffer and a big block by redshirt-freshman Chelsey Farris put them over the top for the win.
Cudworth had 12 kills (.345) and just two errors in the match and sophomore Erin Krupar added 11 kills (.240). Redshirt-junior Lexi Lombardo nailed down eight kills (.412) against only one error.
Smith led all players with 25 digs and junior Zoie Franklin had a season-high 13 digs. The Eagles led in digs overall, 95-58.
Jenna Huffman led the Dragons with 17 kills (.275). Tiffin hit .166 overall and got 34 assists, five digs and five kills from setter Loryn Huffman.
The Eagles will now play Bellarmine at 10 a.m. Saturday (Oct. 18) at The Academy Volleyball Club in their second match of the Crossover. They will conclude the event at 4 p.m. against Indianapolis.
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