SHERMAN, Texas - After holding off a late charge in the first set, fourth-seeded Austin College took control of the match and advanced to next weekend's semifinal round with a 3-0 sweep of fifth-seeded St. Thomas on Saturday in quarterfinal play of the 2020-21 SCAC Volleyball Tournament. Official Championships Website
HOW IT HAPPENED
- With Austin College holding a 24-20 lead in the first set, St. Thomas stormed back to win four straight points to tie the match at 24. The two teams traded points before Austin College won two straight to take the hard-fought 27-25 first set.
- Despite getting out-hit .065 to .114, Austin College managed a 25-21 victory in set two. Using a combination of Olivia Linton kills and untimely attack errors by the Celts, AC scored six straight points to break a 13-13 tie and pull away for the second set victory.
- Caitlin Mahoney had three of her four kills in the third set, including two consecutive kills over a four point run, to help lead AC to the 25-19 match clincher.
- Austin College hit .140 for the match and held St. Thomas to .118.
AUSTIN COLLEGE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Victoria Smith: 10 kills, 4 digs, 4 block assists, 1 block solo
- Olivia Linton: 7 kills
- Shelbi Cook: 6 kills, .462 hitting percentage, 4 service aces, 4 block assists, 1 block solo
- Riley Abernathy: 7 kills, 8 digs, 2 block assists
UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Alaina Lanik: 11 kills, 4 assists, 14 digs
- Kelsie Walker: 23 assists, 13 digs
- Kaylyn Latin: 25 digs, 2 assists
- Alyssa Ajlouny: 5 kills, 7 digs, 2 block solos, 1 block assist
NOTABLES
- With the victory, Austin College will make its fifth appearance in the SCAC volleyball semifinals since the league reinstated the postseason conference tournament in 2007.
- Austin College is one win away from equalling its best finish ever at the SCAC tournament as the 'Roos were runners-up to Trinity at the 2007 event. AC finished third last season after defeating Southwestern in the consolation final.
- Austin College and St. Thomas split their earlier regular season doubleheader in matches played at UST on April 1.
- St. Thomas, still a provisional member of NCAA Division III, was making its inaugural SCAC tournament appearance.
UP NEXT
Austin College (9-6) advances to take on the winner of Colorado College/Dallas in a semfinal match next weekend. If Dallas were to upset Colorado Collete, that match would be played at Austin College; otherwise, the 'Roos would travel to top-seeded Colorado College. Regardless of site, the match date and time is TBD. St. Thomas ends its season with a 7-8 mark.
