Defense was the calling card for Ashland University's volleyball team on Saturday (Sept. 5) afternoon, as the Eagles ended Indiana (Pa.)'s Crimson Hawk Classic with two sweeps to improve to 5-1 on the young 2026 season.
 
The Eagles started the day with a 3-0 win over Daemen (25-20, 25-22, 25-20), and then capped it with a 3-0 victory against West Liberty (25-15, 25-18, 25-13). This gives AU its first 5-1 start through six matches since 2023, as well as four straight-set wins through the season's first two weeks.
 
On Saturday, Ashland's opponent's hitting percentage was .080 vs. Daemen and .009 vs. West Liberty – its best in back-to-back matches since Oct. 28-29, 2023 at Ohio Dominican (.060) and at Thomas More (minus-.019).
 
In the sweep over the Wildcats, sophomore outside hitter Jenna Shedden continued her strong hitting start to 2026, ending with 20 kills and a .457 hitting percentage.
 
Ashland hit .274 vs. Daemen, and the two-headed senior setting partnership of Kylee Urban (25 assists) and Marin Dixon (16) continued its early-season productivity.
 
Defensively, senior libero Abbey Queen dug out 15 attack attempts, and Shedden added 13 digs.
 
In the victory over the Hilltoppers, Urban (17) and Dixon (10) combined for 27 assists, Queen (19) and Shedden (11) once again had double-digit digs, and junior middle blocker Myia Etzler ended with six total blocks (five assisted).
 
The Eagles will debut at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium in 2026 at 6 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 11), in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference opener vs. Findlay. That will be the 9/11 remembrance and attendance breaker match.