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Eastern Sweeps University of St. Thomas 3-0 in NCAA Quarterfinal
St. Louis, Mo., November 18, 2011 –
Eastern University picked up its ninth-straight win with a 26-24,
25-18, 25-19 sweep over University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) in the
2011 NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Quarterfinal Friday
night at the WU Field House.
Eastern, now 36-2 on the season, advanced to its first-ever NCAA
Semifinal appearance with the win. University of St. Thomas ended
its season at 32-5 overall. Eastern will play at 6 p.m. Saturday
against the winner of the California Lutheran University-Wittenberg
University quarterfinal match.
University of St. Thomas grabbed an early 8-2 lead in the match
after an attack error by Eastern. The Eagles chipped away at the
lead before tying the score at 19-19 after back-to-back kills by
sophomore outside hitter Kearby Benak. After another tie at 24-24,
Eastern earned the 26-24 win on kills by freshman outside hitter
Lauren Sproles and freshman middle blocker Katrina Pisch.
Eastern never trailed in the second set, building as much as a
nine-point lead at 22-13 on a kill by Benak. The Tommies got to
within 24-18 on a service ace by freshman outside hitter Jill
Greenfield, but a kill by senior outside hitter Courtney Reinhold
gave Eastern the 25-18 win.
The Tommies jumped out to an early 6-2 lead in the third set behind
three straight ace serves by Greenfield. St. Thomas maintained its
lead until a kill by Benak tied the score at 10-10. The Eagles took
the lead for good on the next point, and back-to-back kills by
Reinhold moved Eastern into the semifinal round with the 25-19
set-three victory.
Eastern hit .311 (51-13-122) in the match, compared with .168
(35-15-119) hitting for St. Thomas. Benak and Reinhold paced
Eastern with 15 kills each, while adding 11 and 14 digs,
respectively. Senior setter Maria Horning tallied 45 assists, and
junior libero Kelly Groff recorded a match-high 15 digs.
The Tommies were led by freshman middle blocker Kelly Foley who
finished with 10 kills. Senior setter Ashley Maher finished with 30
assists. Junior libero Kaitlain Wachter had a team-high 14 digs,
while Greenfield added 11 digs, five ace serves and eight
kills.
