The Ashland University volleyball team saw its season-opening four-match winning streak come to an end Friday (March 5) evening as host Ferris State overcame losing the first set to win, 18-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-16, in Big Rapids, Mich.
The Eagles (4-1, 4-1 GLIAC) were down by a point in the first set, 9-8, but went on to take a 16-9 lead with a run capped by an ace by freshman
Katie Thompson.
The Bulldogs (4-1, 4-1 GLIAC) battled back to within three at 17-14, but Ashland reeled off the next five points with junior
Zoie Franklin on the serve and junior
Heidi Fausze providing three kills in that stretch. A kill by senior
Brooke Peiffer ended the set to give the Eagles the lead.
The momentum ran out there as the Bulldogs used a 4-0 run late in Set 2 to take a commanding 24-19 lead. The Eagles fought off two set points by a kill by Katie O'Connell ended the set.
Ferris State then hit .298 and .326 in the final two sets, respectively, to put the match away.
O'Connell led all players with 24 kills (.362) and 26 digs.
For the Eagles, four players finished in double figures in kills, but AU hit just .132 as a team. Peiffer led the way with 13 kills, followed by Fausze (12), junior
Erin Krupar (12) and senior
Courtney Rosebrook (11, .294).
Junior
Zoey Peck had 38 assists and 19 digs and junior
Sophie Dahn led the back row with 31 digs. Thompson had 27 digs and Franklin had 13.
The Eagles and Bulldogs will match up again on Saturday (March 6) at 3 p.m. in Big Rapids.
AU
VB/BB
