Volleyball Loses To Tiffin In Great Midwest Tournament Opener

Opening the 2022 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday (Nov. 10) night at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium, Ashland University's volleyball team lost a 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-20) decision to Tiffin.
 
"I'm proud of the way that they prepared. They played with heart," said Ashland head coach Kevin Foeman. "I'm disappointed that our only two (conference) losses came at this point in the season. They worked really, really, really hard.
 
"I'm not really sure, preparation-wise, what we could have done differently."
 
It was the second time in less than a week that the Eagles, finishing with the best conference mark and as South Division champions, lost to the Dragons.
 
Ashland is 23-8, and Tiffin is 15-16.
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• An intense first set started everything off on Thursday night, and Ashland won that first set thanks to out-hitting the Dragons, .244 to .149.
• Set No. 2 started with Tiffin going out to a 13-7 lead, then the Eagles chipping away at their deficit. Ashland got to a 17-17 tie, then the Dragons pushed their lead back to 20-17. The Eagles went on a run of their own and led 21-20 after four consecutive kills from sophomore outside hitter Makenna Belcher. Tiffin, however, rallied itself and tied the match at 1.
• The Dragons started the third set leading 6-1, but they were forced to call a timeout after the Eagles cut their deficit to 8-7. A 10-7 Tiffin lead quickly was erased, but the Dragons rebuilt it to 20-11. Tiffin led 23-15 prior to AU scoring four consecutive points and forcing a Dragon timeout, then the run was moved to 6-0 for a 23-21 score. Tiffin scored the last two points and took a 2-1 lead in the match.
• Trailing 6-3 in the fourth set, Ashland scored four in a row to take the lead, compelling Tiffin to take a stoppage. The Dragons quickly turned the tables thanks to a 6-1 spurt which led to an Eagle timeout. Ashland got the score as close as 20-18 late, but could get no closer.

 
THE WRAP-UP

• Fifth-year outside hitter Erin Krupar finished with 14 kills and 14 digs, and those kills made her just the fourth player in program history with at least 1,800 in a career (1,809).
• Belcher ended with 14 kills and a team-high-tying 18 digs, while senior middle blocker Anna Krikke had 13 kills, a .481 hitting percentage and six total blocks.
• Fifth-year setter Zoey Peck had 44 assists and 16 digs, while junior libero Katie Thompson tied Belcher with 18 digs – moving Thompson into third place on Ashland's single-season list with 551.

 
UP NEXT
The NCAA Division II volleyball tournament selection show on Sunday (Nov. 13) at 10:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.