THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The 2015 NCAA Division III Thousand Oaks Regional opened with the first of two American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top-25 showdowns of the day. In a battle between fourth seeded Southwestern (Texas) and fifth seeded Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, the Athenas came out on top avenging an earlier season loss to the Pirates, winning 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-17) to advance to Saturday play with an upset in straight sets.
A fired up CMS team combined to hit at .467 clip with just seven errors on 107 swings including a .545 third set showing. On the flip side, Southwestern managed a .221 team hitting percentage highlighted by a final set .342 with 14 kills and a single miscue, but was unable to overcome a slow start.
To start the match, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps jumped out to a 4-0 lead, forcing an early SU timeout. Out of the break the Pirates put up their first crooked number and play would continue. Although the squads were separated by a mere few points for much of the middle of the set, the Athenas built an 18-12 advantage that led to a second break. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps continued to control the pace of play and closed out the game on a 7-2 run to win 25-14 in the first of four matches on the day.
The second set saw more of the same as the designated visiting team, CMS, cruised to a 25-16 victory to increase its overall match lead to two games to none. Each time the Pirates seemed to generate some offense, the Athenas answered, leaving the Texas team in a 2-0 deficit.
Again, CMS earned the first point of the third set and when Southwestern put down back-to-back points the Pirates took their first lead of the day 2-1. The teams would exchange points until Claremont-Mudd-Scripps broke a 6-6 tie. At 8-7, Mikena Wernerwent back to serve and the Athenas notched the next four points to open a 12-7 advantage. Shelbi Stein used her 11th kill of the day to ink the game and match in the books, sending the Maroon and Gold into the semifinals.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (27-5) put four players in double figures, led by an incredible 13-for-15 performance from Margaux Arntson for an .867 hitting percentage followed by 12, 11 and 10 kills apiece from Nicole Kerkhof, Steinand Crystal Anderson, respectively. Clara Madsen and Tanner Hoke split the setting duties, combining for 46. Kerkhof added 11 digs for a double-double, joining team-leader Werner (15) and Madsen (10) in double digits. The team finished with 4.5 total blocks, led by Mariah Rigg with three block assists.
Southwestern (31-5) saw its season end on a day when Kairlyn Foster and Kate Mitchellshared a team-lead with eight kills apiece.Nikki Welchput up 31 assists and Kaitlyn Corbetthad the only service ace of the afternoon. Defensively, Welch notched a team-high 11 digs as the only Pirates player in double figures and the team combined for just 1.0 total block with a block assist from Welch and Kirby Kincannon.
