THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - For the second year in a row, Colorado College and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps met in a regional semifinal of the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship. Interactive Bracket | Regional Website | Box Score | Postgame Interview
Unlike last year, however, the Tigers were not the team moving
on.
Audrey Breitweiser sealed the match with the last of her 22 kills
as the 17th-ranked Athenas came from behind to record a 25-23,
22-25, 19-25, 25-22, 15-13 victory on Saturday at California
Lutheran University's Gilbert Arena.
In the fifth and deciding set, CMS used an 8-4 run to grab a 10-9
lead. Trailing 14-12, CC pulled to within a point on a kill by
sophomore outside hitter Abbe Holtze, but a Breitweiser kill closed
out the match and sent the Athenas into the regional
championship.
Colorado College led 18-15 in the fourth set after senior
outside/middle hitter Kristen Liberty put away one of her 12 kills.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps regrouped behind four kills from Regina
Mullen and used a 10-4 run to even the match at two sets
apiece.
Mullen and Margaux Arntson finished with 12 kills apiece.
Holtze recorded her 23rd double-double of the season with 16 kills
and 24 digs, while junior opposite hitter Courtney
Birkett posted a double-double with 10 kills and a career-high
28 digs.
Sophie Merrifield finished with 31 digs and eclipsed her own
single-season record with 739. The junior libero now ranks second
on CC's career list with 1,827. Junior middle
hitter Kaimara Herron added nine kills and had a hand in a
career-high eight blocked shots. Sophomore setter Rebecca
Watson had six of her 10 kills in the second set as the Tigers
overcame a pair of five-point deficits to level the match at one
set apiece.
The Athenas improved to 26-6 and will face either Trinity
University or California Lutheran in the regional final on Sunday
against fellow SCAC memeber Trinity University. Colorado
College finished the season with a 30-9 record, the fifth time in
six seasons the Tigers finished with 30 or more
victories.
