AU Volleyball Sweeps Pioneers, Will Play Host To Great Midwest Tournament

There is a first time for everything.
 
For Ashland University's volleyball program, "everything" is the opportunity to play host to a conference tournament, as, following a 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-11) win over Malone on Tuesday (Nov. 1) night at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium, the Eagles will have the entire Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament on their home floor on Nov. 10-12.
 
"I don't have words," said Ashland head coach Kevin Foeman, who moves to one win away from becoming the fourth Eagle volleyball head coach to win 100 games (99-41, .707). "I'm so proud. I can say this is the hardest-working team I've ever had. This is a testament of what they can do."
 
Ashland, receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) NCAA Division II coaches poll and still the lone Midwest Region team to be undefeated in league play, improves to 23-6 overall and 16-0 in the Great Midwest. The Eagles are 20-1 in their last 21 outings, have won 20 in a row at home, and of their 23 victories this season, 19 have been sweeps.
 
"They just come out with a mission," Foeman said.
 
Malone is 11-7, 7-9.
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• The first set was tight throughout, and Malone took an 18-17 lead. That was before three consecutive Eagle points – and a Pioneer timeout. Ashland continued to plow ahead, and took a 1-0 lead in the match.
• Tuesday's second set was just as close as the first, but the Eagles prevailed again for a 2-0 lead thanks to a defense which allowed Malone to hit .087 in the set.

 
THE WRAP-UP

• Ashland's outside hitters – sophomore Makenna Belcher (16 kills, .394 hitting percentage, four block assists and six digs) and fifth-year Erin Krupar (14 kills, .357 percentage, eight digs) had big nights.
• "I just feel like this year, it's all come together," Belcher said. "We have such great leadership, and we are composed during a game."
• With 1,787 career kills, Krupar is 13 away from becoming the fourth player in program history with 1,800 in a career.
• Fifth-year setter Zoey Peck recorded 40 assists in just three sets, as Ashland hit .272 in the match.
• Junior libero Katie Thompson finished with a team-high 17 digs, putting her in seventh place all-time at Ashland with 1,203. Thompson also went past 500 digs for the season (509).
• "I think she's the best libero in the country," Foeman said. "I can say that with 100-percent certainty and confidence. She is the driving force for what we do."
• Senior defensive specialist Stephanie Smith added 10 digs in the victory.
• Foeman's .707 winning percentage at AU is the program's best for a head coach with at least 100 matches coached.

 
UP NEXT
One last regular-season match on Friday (Nov. 4) at 7 p.m. at Tiffin (13-16, 7-9) - with a chance to finish the regular season undefeated in conference play.
 
"Tiffin's a tough team to play at their gym," Belcher said. "It's really tight in there, and their fans are super-loud, so we're going to take the next few days and get ready."