Eagles Grind Out Four-Set Win In Season Opener

The Ashland University volleyball team took the court for the first time in 457 days on Friday (Feb. 19) night and came away with a 25-20, 15-25, 25-20, 25-23 win over visiting Davenport at Kates Gymnasium.
 
Playing an unusual season in the spring with sights set on a GLIAC title, the Eagles got off to a positive start in the first of two matches against the Panthers this weekend.

The Eagles won the first set, 25-20, despite falling behind in the early-going, 15-10. They rallied to score six straight points and take a 16-15 lead with junior Sophie Dahn on the serve. After it was tied at 17, the Eagles scored eight of the last 11 points, getting a kill from junior Heidi Fausze to end the set.
 
After dropping the second frame, the Eagles bounced back from a 3-0 deficit in the third to score the next five points with senior Brooke Peiffer serving. The Eagles carried that lead until the Panthers tied it at 23, but two errors by the visitors gave Ashland the win.
 
The Eagles led Set 4 by a 17-12 margin before Davenport came back with a 5-0 run to tie it at 17. Back-to-back kills by junior Erin Krupar and Peiffer gave AU a 19-17 lead.
 
Davenport was able to trim a 22-18 deficit down to two, but the Eagles scored the last three points, including kills by Fausze and Peiffer to end it.
 
Peiffer led the Eagles with 17 kills (.186) and 13 digs while Krupar added 15 kills (.282). Freshman libero Katie Thompson totaled 22 digs and junior setter Zoey Peck had 37 assists and 12 digs. Junior Sophie Dahn also had 14 digs for the Eagles.
 
Megan Herr led the Panthers with 14 kills.

The Eagles and Panthers will conclude their two-match series on Saturday (Feb. 20) at 6 p.m. at Kates Gymnasium.