THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The 12th-ranked Southwestern University Pirates were defeated by 7th-ranked Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday with a final score of 3-0.
CMS combined to hit .467 including a big .545 third set. The Pirates posted a .221 hitting percentage highlighted by a .342 third set. The Athenas went on a 7-2 run late in the first set to earn a convincing 25-14 win in the first set.
The Athenas took the second set 25-16 before the Pirates generated some positive attacks to knot it up at 6-6 in the third set. Behind Mikena Werner, CMS would earn the net four points to go up 12-7 and hold on to punch their ticket to the semifinals.
Southwestern finished the season 31-5 behind SCAC Tournament MVP Kaitlyn Foster and Kate Mitchell who posted a team-high eight kills apiece. SCAC All-Tournament team member Nikki Welch posted 31 assists and a team-high 11 digs.
