Eagles Rally For 3-1 Home Win Over Yellow Jackets

After losing the first set on Friday (Sept. 24) night at Kates Gymnasium, the question for Ashland University's volleyball team was how it would rally after being a point away from winning but falling 26-24.
 
The answer? Pretty well, actually.
 
Ashland won its third consecutive match, improving to 4-7 overall and 3-0 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference after a 3-1 (24-26, 25-15, 25-15, 25-17) decision over Cedarville (2-6, 1-3).
 
"I knew that we just lacked a little focus early on," said Ashland head coach Kevin Foeman. "But I thought our energy was there, so I wasn't worried that we were just going to lay down. I knew we were going to fight the entire time."
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• Senior outside hitter Erin Krupar had a night, ending with a match-high 22 kills to go with a .476 hitting percentage, 10 digs and five block assists.
• "That's what you look for in outsides, and we've worked really hard on hitting smart shots, passing, defense," Foeman said of Krupar. "She's always played with fire, but now she's able to be a smarter senior captain, which is what she is. She can do a lot of different things."
• Said Krupar, "This team is just so close this year. Nothing phases us. It was really nice to have a full week of practice with everyone back. We had all the pieces together, and it showed tonight.
• Sophomore libero Katie Thompson, the reigning Great Midwest South Division Defensive Player of the Week, started her candidacy for another honor with a match-high 28 digs on Friday night.
• "She had 28 digs in four sets. You're not going to get much better than that," Foeman said of Thompson.
• Freshman outside hitter Sage Kissman added 15 kills, while senior setter Zoey Peck had 44 assists and 16 digs.
• "We saw these swings that were next-level swings," Foeman said of Kissman in the early part of the campaign. "It just takes a little bit of time for a freshman to round into form, but we saw glimpses of that, and now she's starting to play with more confidence."

 
UP NEXT
Ashland will play a fourth consecutive home match on Saturday (Sept. 25) at 6 p.m. vs. Ohio Dominican (9-3, 3-0) – a match which will be for first place in the Great Midwest South Division.