Ashland University's volleyball team is accomplishing things not seen for a long time…which may result in another not-long-seen accomplishment come Monday (Oct. 10) afternoon.
The Eagles, coming off a 3-0 home sweep of Findlay on Friday (Oct. 7) night, repeated the feat on Saturday (Oct. 8) afternoon at the Sherill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium, taking a 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-21) decision from Hillsdale.
Ashland and Hillsdale both entered the week receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 poll, and now the Eagles, at 16-5 overall and 11-0 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, could be in that Top 25 next week for the first time in 14 years.
"We're ready. I think we've been ready for a year now," said Ashland head coach
Kevin Foeman. "We're showcasing what we can do. We're locked in, we're playing hard, and we're playing together.
"I knew going in this could be a special year, for them to be healthy and focused all year."
Hillsdale is 16-4, 9-2.
The Eagles, who were playing their Breast Cancer Awareness match on Saturday, now have 13 consecutive wins – the program's most since the start of the 1999 season (14). Ashland's 12 wins a row prior to Saturday were tied for the fifth-longest current win streak in NCAA Division II.
Ashland remains the only team in the Midwest Region volleyball undefeated in conference play in 2022.
WHAT HAPPENED
- Hillsdale opened up a 10-3 lead prior to an Eagle timeout, and the Charger advantage eventually became 11-3 before Ashland put up three points in a row. It was a 15-10 Hillsdale advantage, but the Eagles kept coming – to the point where a 15-5 run finished off the first set.
- Ashland started the second set with a 10-5 lead prior to HC stopping play, and the second Charger timeout of the set came with a 16-7 Eagle advantage. Despite a slight scare late in the set, Ashland went up 2-0 in the match.
- The Eagles took the third-set lead at 8-7 and pushed it to 17-13 before Hillsdale once again stopped play. The Chargers again attempted a late comeback, but Ashland finished off the match in three.
THE WRAP-UP
- As usual, the Eagle veterans were the ones who led the way. Fifth-year senior outside hitter Erin Krupar ended with 17 kills, a .350 hitting percentage and 14 digs, fifth-year setter Zoey Peck collected 41 assists, and senior defensive specialist Stephanie Smith led AU with 20 digs.
- "It feels amazing, because we've worked so hard for this," Smith said. "That work is finally paying off. It just feels amazing, and to win at home is always a good feeling. Big crowds definitely help us."
- "She's the glue that keeps us together," Foeman reiterated about Smith. "She's been a steady, calming force for Zoey, and she's really good, and so you need that."
- Also leading the way for AU were junior libero Katie Thompson (14 digs), sophomore outside hitter Makenna Belcher (10 kills) and freshman middle blocker Abby Stanford (nine kills, .438 percentage, seven block assists).
- Ashland hit .296 as a team on Saturday afternoon, and kept Hillsdale to a .111 hitting percentage.
UP NEXT
Ashland's next test will be three matches at the 2022 Midwest Region Crossover on Friday and Saturday (Oct. 14-15) in Hammond, Ind.
"It's not going to be any easier, because everyone's seen us already," Foeman said. "They've got to play us, and I think there are some good teams (in the region)."
Said Smith, "It's definitely going to be exciting."
