The Ashland University volleyball team rolled offensively as they posted a straight-set win over visiting Davenport, 25-16, 28-26, 25-21, in the regular season finale on Saturday (Nov. 16) evening at Kates Gymnasium.
The Eagles celebrated Senior Day prior to the match and their lone senior had one of her best matches of the season. Outside hitter Sophi Cudworth finished with 16 kills (.448), three blocks and three digs to lead the Eagles.
It was not Cudworth's final match at Kates Gymnasium as the Eagles will host the GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal as the No. 3 seed in next week's tournament. Ashland will play No. 6 seed Northern Michigan on Wednesday (Nov. 20) at 7 p.m.
The Eagles were firing on all cylinders from the start as they posted a 25-16 win in Set 1. The Panthers (11-16, 6-10 GLIAC) led early, 4-3, but the Eagles scored the next six points with freshman Abbey Fletcher serving.
Set 2 went back-and-forth with 15 tie scores and eight lead changes. Davenport held a 23-22 lead before the Eagles scored the next two to get to set point. The Panthers then got to set point at 25-24, but sophomore Erin Krupar had a kill to tie it. The teams traded the next two points and redshirt-junior Lexi Lombardo gave the Eagles a 27-26 lead. The Eagles finished the set with a block by Cudworth and redshirt-freshman Chelsey Farris.
The Eagles never trailed in the third set as they hit at a .379 clip with just two errors. Cudworth had six kills on nine attacks with no errors.
Krupar finished with 11 kills (.391) and redshirt-junior Brooke Peiffer added 10 kills (.219) to join their senior leader in double figures. Peiffer had a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs.
Sophomore Zoey Peck also had a double-double with 34 assists and 11 digs.
Hayley Kreiger led the Panthers with 12 kills (.188) while Sami White had 33 assists.
AU
VB/BB
