Eagles Earn Fourth Straight Great Midwest Sweep At Lake Erie

On Friday (Sept. 16) night at Lake Erie, Ashland University's volleyball team ran its winning streak to five matches, and its Great Midwest Athletic Conference streak to 12 consecutive sets won, following a 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-21) victory over the Storm.
 
The Eagles, receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 poll, move to 8-5 overall and 4-0 in the Great Midwest after their fifth consecutive victory over Lake Erie. The Storm are 2-8, 0-3.
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• Ashland and Lake Erie were knotted at 19 in the first set before the Eagles went on a 6-2 run to go ahead 1-0 in the match.
• In the second set, AU weathered a 9-2 Storm run which got Lake Erie to within one points at 18-17, but a 7-3 counter to end the set allowed the Eagles get one set away from a sweep.
• Trailing 8-2 early in the third set, Ashland worked its way back, eventually taking a 15-14 lead and not giving it up the rest of the way.

 
THE WRAP-UP

• Sophomore outside hitter Makenna Belcher led the AU offense with 15 kills and a .367 hitting percentage, while fifth-year setter Zoey Peck collected 27 assists.
• Defensively, junior libero Katie Thompson had a team-high 15 digs.
• Friday night's match featured 13 ties and three lead changes.

 
UP NEXT
Ashland will continue its stretch of Great Midwest road matches on Saturday (Sept. 17) at 4 p.m. at Ursuline.