AU Volleyball Earns Another Great Midwest Sweep To Remain Unbeaten In League Play

On Saturday (Oct. 22) afternoon at Kentucky Wesleyan, Ashland University's volleyball team finished off a double-sweep road trip, taking a 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 26-24) decision away from home for the second day in a row.
 
The Eagles, still the only team in Midwest Region to be undefeated in conference play and continuing to receive votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) NCAA Division II coaches poll, move to 20-6 overall and 13-0 in the Great Midwest. Ashland has earned its first 20-win season since 2019 (24 wins).
 
With four regular-season matches to play, the Eagles are four matches ahead of second-place Cedarville in the Great Midwest South Division. Ashland also is two matches ahead of both Hillsdale and Findlay (and with the head-to-head tiebreaker) for the overall league title and the right to play host to the 2022 Great Midwest Tournament, Nov. 10-12.
 
KWC is 6-18, 2-11.
 
An Ashland milestone was reached in the victory, as fifth-year setter Zoey Peck became the third player in program history to record 5,000 career assists. With 33 helpers at Kentucky Wesleyan, Peck now has 5,027 career as an Eagle.
 
THE WRAP-UP

• Ashland kept Kentucky Wesleyan to a .139 hitting percentage, and the mainstays on the Eagle defense led the charge – senior defensive specialist Stephanie Smith (17 digs), junior libero Katie Thompson (16 digs), fifth-year outside hitter Erin Krupar (15 digs) and Peck (10 digs).
• Krupar and senior middle blocker Anna Krikke each had 10 kills to pace AU.

 
UP NEXT
Ashland's Senior Night on Friday (Oct. 28) at 7 p.m. against Cedarville (11-12, 9-4).