Colorado College Battles Back Against Pacific Lutheran to Advance to Finals

Colorado College Battles Back Against Pacific Lutheran to Advance to Finals

(Story courtesy of Colorado College athletics)

GEORGETOWN, Texas
– The top-ranked Colorado College volleyball team displayed its amazing resiliency once again on Saturday afternoon, coming from behind to defeat Pacific Lutheran University in a regional semifinal match of the 2017 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship.

Trailing two sets to one, the Tigers erased an early five-point deficit in the fourth set to record a 21-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-21, 15-8 victory over the Lutes.

With its seventh five-set victory without a loss this season, CC improved to 33-1 and earned a spot in Sunday's regional championship match. The Tigers will face either second-seeded Claremont-Mudd-Scripps or regional host Southwestern University at noon CT.

Jordan Mullen tied her career high with a match-high 25 kills and completed her second double-double of the regional with 13 kills. Colorado College's unstoppable outside hitter hit .442 on 43 attacks.

The Tigers got a huge boost from freshman outside hitter Allie Freeburg, who put down four kills in both the fourth and fifth sets.

Sophomore setter Lizzy Counts also came through in the clutch and finished with 49 assists and 12 digs. She added five kills on 12 attacks and served a pair of aces.

Senior middle hitter Glenna Yancey had a hand in five blocked shots, while sophomore libero Anna Gurolnick produced a team-high 16 digs.

CC trailed 11-6 early in the fourth set, but after head coach Rick Swan burned a timeout to calm his team, Mullen erupted for five kills as the Tigers scored nine of the next 11 points to take a 15-13 lead.  

Pacific Lutheran took an 18-17 lead on an ace by Chloe Epker, but Freeburg answered with a kill that ignited an 8-3 Colorado College run that tied the match at two sets apiece.   

The Lutes took an early 5-3 lead in the fifth set, however the Tigers regained the momentum on the strength of a 6-1 run that forced PLU to spend a time out.

Tough serving by freshman defensive specialist Rachel Krutz led to five more points for Colorado College, three of which came on Freeburg kills.

After Pacific Lutheran cut its deficit to a 14-8 on kill from Danielle Skibiel and a wide shot from CC, the Tigers put the match away on Freeburg's final kill.

SCAC Baseball Recap - Week Two
February 12, 2018 SCAC Baseball Recap - Week Two
SCAC Spring Media Days
January 31, 2018 SCAC Spring Media Days
SCAC Basketball Media Days
November 14, 2017 SCAC Basketball Media Days
SCAC Dominates AVCA Rankings
September 20, 2017 SCAC Dominates AVCA Rankings
SCAC Fall Media Days
August 28, 2017 SCAC Fall Media Days