LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. – Asbury volleyball (18-10, 7-5 CCS) punched its ticket to the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) Championship on Friday afternoon, defeating No. 2 LaGrange (17-12, 8-4 CCS) in four sets in the CCS Semifinals at the Barnes PE Center.
The Eagles took the match 25-18, 26-24, 19-25, 25-21.
Asbury produced 59 kills while hitting .221 in the semifinal victory, adding 84 digs, 53 assists and seven total blocks. The Eagles held LaGrange to a .131 hitting percentage and forced 28 attack errors.
The Eagles overcame an early 9-6 deficit in the opening set, eventually taking their first lead at 11-10. Asbury continued to build separation down the stretch, with Sophie Glushchak and Emma Dean providing late kills as AU closed the first set on a 12-4 run to take it, 25-18.
Asbury carried the momentum into the second, building a 16-7 advantage behind a balanced attack and a service ace from Ariana Bluestein. LaGrange fought all the way back, tying the frame at 24-24, but Isabelle VandeSchraaf delivered a kill to give AU set point before a LaGrange attack error sealed the 26-24 win and 2-0 match advantage.
LaGrange responded in the third set, using an extended run to turn an early 3-0 Asbury lead into a 16-6 advantage. The Eagles chipped away late, pulling within five, but the Panthers held on for a 25-19 win to force a fourth set.
AU answered with its best offensive performance of the match in the fourth, hitting .333 with 17 kills. Asbury jumped ahead 10-5 and maintained the advantage until LaGrange used a late run to pull within one at 22-21. Emma Dean stopped the run with a kill before Asbury scored the final two points, capped by a match-winning kill from Isabelle VandeSchraaf, to take the set 25-21 and secure a spot in the CCS Championship match.
Sophie Glushchak and Isabelle VandeSchraaf led the Asbury attack with 15 kills apiece. Glushchak hit .333, while VandeSchraaf added 14 digs for a double-double. Emma Dean delivered an efficient performance with 13 kills on 21 attacks and just two errors, hitting a match-high .524.
Sara Beth Gray recorded a double-double with 24 assists and a team-high 20 digs. Julia Wright added 18 assists, while Lilly Cowing collected 18 digs. Ariana Bluestein finished with 13 digs and two service aces.
* Sophie Glushchak | 15 K, .333 PCT, 2 BLK
* Isabelle VandeSchraaf | 15 K, 14 DIG, 2 BLK
* Emma Dean | 13 K, .524 PCT, 3 BLK
* Sara Beth Gray | 24 AST, 20 DIG
* Julia Wright | 18 AST, 5 DIG
* Lilly Cowing | 18 DIG, 9 AST
* Ariana Bluestein | 13 DIG, 2 SA
The team advances to the CCS Finals tomorrow to take on the winner of No. 1 Covenant and No. 4 Huntingdon in Lookout Mountain, Ga., at 1 PM.
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