GEORGETOWN, Texas - The Southwestern University
Pirates continued their winning streak in the first round of the
NCAA South Regional, defeating the University of Dallas 3-0. With
the win the Pirates improve to 34-3 overall on the season.
Senior Sam Lingamfelter got things started and set the tone for the
Pirates as SU rattled off three quick points to take an early lead.
UD tied the game back up after a series of hitting errors by
Southwestern to bring the game even at 4-4.
After holding onto a two point lead throughout most of the match
Southwestern turned it up a notch to take control. A diving
one-armed dig by senior Reese Cisneros helped set up a kill by
senior Audra Gentry that hit within the 10-foot line and Cisneros
followed that with an ace to put SU up 17-13 and force a UD
timeout.
The Crusaders attempted a final run for the set but fell short as
sophomore Jill Wigington snuck two kills just inside the end line
to close out the game 25-18.
The Pirates jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the second set behind the
blocks of sophomore Lindsay Thompson. With solid, consistent play
Southwestern cruised through the rest of the set, winning 25-15 to
go up 2-0 in the match.
With the wind at their back the Pirates set out on an all-out
sprint to the win. SU pounced on the Crusaders taking a 12-2 lead,
stuffing everything within their reach back across the net,
seemingly fueled by the boisterous, involved crowd.
Behind of chant of ‘Let’s go, Bucs’ the Pirates
closed out the match on a kill by first-year Kayla Saenger.
Southwestern took the final set 25-8, winning the match 3-0 and
extending their win streak to 31 matches.
The Pirates advance to the NCAA South regional semifinal where they
will face Maryville out of Tennessee who beat the previously
undefeated University of Texas – Dallas Comets. Game is set
for 7:00 pm at Southwestern University.