(Portions of this story were taken from the Colorado College, Millsaps College and Trinity University websites)
Feature Photo credit: Ron May
JACKSON, Miss. - Playing on its home floor, sixth-seeded Millsaps College upset third-seeded Austin College Friday night in the quarterfinals of the 2011 SCAC Volleyball Championship Tournament. Official Tournament Website | Updated Bracket
After knocking off #11 Oglethorpe, 3-0, Millsaps bounced Austin College 25-16, 25-21, 22-25, 26-24 to earn the 3-1 win.
In the upset of Austin College, six different Majors picked up double digit digs in what may have been the team's best defensive performance of the season. Junior Raven Scott led the way for Millsaps with a triple-double of 12 kills, 19 assists, and 17 digs. Junior Mackenzie Westphal added 10 kills.
Millsaps finds its way in the semifinals of the SCAC Volleyball Tourmament for the first time since the 1999 season. The Majors will be in action at 1:30 p.m. to take on the the second-seeded and 13th-nationally ranked Colorado College Tigers.
Colorado College upended Rhodes College in three straight, 25-17, 25-16 and 25-17. Junior Laura Goldsmith and freshman Kristen Liberty led the Tiger offense with nine kills each. Senior Amy Schornack ran the offense with a team-high 20 assists. Liberty also served up a team-high four aces, while Schornack and Goldsmith each added three serves aces for CC.
Fifth-seeded Trinity University took out fourth-seeded Birmingham-Southern College, 25-19, 26-24, 25-18 in the day's first quarterfinal match. The Tigers opened the tournament with a 25-17, 25-16, 25-17 win over No. 12 Sewanee: The University of the South earlier in the day.
Trinity's Madison McMahon set a team season-high for a three-set match, recording 16 kills against the Panthers. She also tied Maryn Swierc for the lead in digs, with 11. Swierc shelled out 29 assists and a Tiger-best three service aces in the match.
Awaiting Trinity in tomorrow's first semifinal match will be the tournament's top seed and sixth-ranked Southwestern University, who knocked off the University of Dallas, 25-12, 25-9, 21-25, 25-20.
Prior to the last match of the night, 36 seniors from the SCAC teams were honored in a special ceremony.
Following seniors recognition, the All-SCAC Teams were announced, followed by the players of the year, and coach of the year announcements. Click here for the 2011 All-SCAC Volleyball release.
Saturday's consolation action starts at 9 a.m. with Centre College and Sewanee playing for 11th place. In the other 9 a.m. match, Birmingham-Southern College and the University of Dallas play with the winner taking on the winner of Austin College and Rhodes College (11:15 a.m.) for fifth place.
The day's first semifinal will also be at 11:15 a.m., with long-time SCAC rivals Southwestern and Trinity tangling for a spot in Saturday's championship match. Colorado College and Millsaps College follow at 1:30 p.m.
Also being played at 1:30 p.m., Hendrix College and Oglethorpe University vie for ninth place.
The seventh-place match will take place at 3:45 p.m., the third-place match at 6 p.m., and Saturday's title game at 8:15 p.m.
For complete information regarding the 2011 SCAC Volleyball Championship, including live video, click here for the official championships website.
