Eagles Sweep Falcons To Start Home Portion Of 2022 Schedule

Home sweet home was brought to a different level by Ashland University's volleyball team on Tuesday (Aug. 30) night.
 
The Eagles, receiving votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) NCAA Division II coaches poll, took care of Notre Dame College, 3-0 (25-21, 25-8, 25-12) on Tuesday at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium.
 
Ashland is 2-3 going into the weekend, while the Falcons are 1-4.
 
"Honestly, I think being back home," Ashland head coach Kevin Foeman said about the difference between Tuesday and the opening four matches in Minnesota. "Great crowd. They got tested this past weekend with some of the best in the country, and that gave them the confidence that they can play with anybody."
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• The Eagles were hitting on all cylinders, finishing with a team hitting percentage of .462. It is Ashland's highest single-match hitting percentage since Sept. 7, 2007 (.521).
• Senior middle blocker Anna Krikke came one serve away from tying the program record for single-match hitting percentage. Krikke's zero attack in the final point of the match left her with a percentage of .769 (10 kills, no errors in 13 attacks), which is tied for the third-best in Ashland volleyball history.
• "It was awesome. We got a good crowd going here," Krikke said. "It was great to be with the team back home. It just felt really awesome. It was definitely a confidence-booster."
• Said Foeman, "She's been known as a great blocker, but this past spring, she worked extremely hard on her offensive game, and she's been showcasing that. She's a good hitter."
• Freshman middle blocker Abby Stanford hit .700 (seven kills, no errors in 10 attacks), sophomore outside hitter Sage Kissman hit .571 (five kills, one error in seven attacks), and fifth-year outside hitter Erin Krupar hit .529 (10 kills, one error in 17 attacks).
• Fifth-year setter Zoey Peck set up all the strong hitting with 45 assists.
• "Our passers did a great job in serve receive," Krikke said. "They gave us really great passes to work with. Everything went hand-in-hand. To be able to perform with the sets that Zoey gave me, because they were awesome…I really appreciate her pushing me to be better and better."

 
UP NEXT
Ashland will play four matches at the UIndy Invitational in Indianapolis, Ind. On Friday (Sept. 2), the Eagles will face Minnesota State-Mankato (1-3) at 9 a.m. and No. 21-ranked Minnesota Duluth (4-0) at 3 p.m. On Saturday, AU will take on Missouri-St. Louis (3-1) at noon and Bentley (4-0) at 6 p.m.
 
"Two Minnesota schools, so six of our first seven games are from the Northern Sun," Foeman noted. "It should be a great weekend of volleyball again."
 
"We intend to win all four matches this weekend," said Krikke. "I think we can do it, we all believe we can do it."