Courtesy of Colorado College Athletics
MOUNT BERRY, Ga. -- The Colorado College volleyball team added to its history of success in five-set tournament matches on Friday afternoon as the Tigers gutted out a 20-25, 25-21, 25-17, 23-25, 15-12 victory over Washington and Lee University in a first-round match of the 2018 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship.
CC will play in a regional semifinal for ninth time in 11 seasons on Saturday when it faces No. 9 Emory University at 2:30 p.m. ET.
The fourth-ranked Tigers improved to 32-2 with their fourth consecutive five-set victory this season.
Colorado College also has won five of its last six NCAA Tournament matches that went to five sets.
Senior middle hitter Myca Steffey-Bean and junior outside hitter Haley Harris led CC's balanced attack with 11 kills and four service aces apiece.
Junior outside hitter Jordan Mullen finished with 10 kills.
Harris added a season-high 27 digs to complete her 14th double-double of the season, while Steffey-Bean had a hand in four of the team's eight blocked shots.
With the score tied at 4-4 in the final set, the Tigers utilized a 6-2 surge that was capped by a shared block by Steffey-Bean and sophomore outside hitter Allie Freeburg, and then a kill by Steffey-Bean from Freeburg.
After the Generals pulled to within 11-9, a kill from Harris and a WLU misfire pushed the Colorado College cushion back to four points.
Washington and Lee closed to within 14-12, but CC put the match away with a kill from junior middle hitter Marguerite Spaethling.
Brynne Gould led the Generals with 14 kills, while Courtney Berry added nine.
Elly Cosgrove finished with a match-high 33 digs.
Emory served 14 aces en route to a decisive 25-11, 25-17, 25-17 victory over Meredith College in the first match of the day.