Volleyball Advances to Conference Tourney Championship
Nov 1, 2018
DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque volleyball team (23-8 overall, 6-2 A-R-C) swept past the visiting Coe College Kohawks (20-11 overall, 5-3 A-R-C) on Thursday night in the American Rivers Conference Tournament in straight sets to advance to the tournament championship on Saturday.The Spartans won set one by a 25-21 margin, captured set two 25-16, and won the match by winning the third and final set 25-23.
UD was led by a trio of offensive players with Kara Wright finishing with 12 kills, as teammates Rylee Andresen and Sarrah Faraday both ended the night with 10 kills each. Kate Messino earned 36 set assists, had 11 defensive digs, and two service aces. Grace Strawser led the defense with 19 digs and Jenna Runde had 12 and two service aces. Andresen led all blocks with four solos in the victory.
The Spartans will travel to face the 2018 conference champions, the Wartburg College Knights, on their home court on Saturday with a time yet to be determined. This is the first time since 1999, UD has fought their way into the tournament title game.
The 2018 American Rivers Conference Volleyball tournament will see the top two seeds in No.1 Wartburg (18-11 overall, 7-1 A-R-C) and No.2 Dubuque (23-8 overall, 6-2 A-R-C) collide in the championship match Saturday, November 3. The Spartans will travel to Waverly for the title bout, with the start time set for 7:00 p.m. The Spartans will be in search of their first tournament title since 1995, when they defeated Central 3-0. Prior to the '95 championship UD won the league's first-ever volleyball tournament in 1982.
Wartburg will be making their eighth trip to the conference tournament in the last 10 seasons after a thrilling five set win (25-13, 27-29, 25-17, 21-25, 15-7) over No.4 Luther (19-11 overall, 4-4 A-R-C) in tonight's semifinal round. The Knights will be seeking their fourth straight and ninth overall tournament title.
The Spartans are contending for the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship. Regional play of the NCAA Division III Tournament takes place 11/08/2018 - 11/11/2018 at eight, yet to be determined, campus sites. The tournament finals will take place 11/15/2018 - 11/17/2018 at the A.J. Palumbo Center (Pittsburgh, PA), Hosted by Saint Vincent College and SportsPITTSBURGH.
