(Story Courtesy of Trinity University Sports Information Department)
CLAREMONT, Calif., - No. 7 Tiger Volleyball concluded their 2023 season with a 3-1 loss to Juniata in the NCAA III Volleyball Quarterfinals.
The Tigers end their season with a 31-5 record (15-1 SCAC), an SCAC title, and a national quarterfinal appearance. The Tigers are now 5-17 all-time against Juniata and 2-5 against Juniata in the playoffs.
The Rundown
The 2022 National Championship Rematch got underway with the Tigers giving the ball to 2023 SCAC Player of the Year Mackenzie Logan and she would put the ball down with authority. The Tigers and Eagles would trade points early in the set but the Tigers would jump ahead with a five-point run with two kills sponsored by Reagan Whatley. The Tigers would extend their lead to six points but the Eagles would storm back with an eight-point run that gave them a 20-17 lead. The Tigers would fight back but Juniata would take the set 20-25.
The second set would see Juniata jump out to a quick 1-5 lead. However, a huge kill by fifth-year Brette Thornton would start a three-point run that would give the Tigers the lead right back. The Eagles would regain the lead and go up by three points. That lead would give the Eagles the cushion they needed as they would score nine of the last ten points to take set two by a score of 16-25.
The Tigers would take an early 4-1 lead in the second set. Juniata would claw back to tie the match at 7 all but a block and a kill by Whatley would put the Tigers back up by two. The Tigers would stay on the gas pedal later in the set when kills by Logan, Whatley, and Lauren McCarthy grew the Tiger lead to three. A 5-2 run by Juniata cut the lead to two but the Tigers were ready to take a set from the Eagles. Marisa Amarino would backset Connelley McWilliams who would send a shot off of the Eagle block to put the ball down to give the Tigers the set 25-21.
The fourth set would start like the others, with one team gaining a three-point lead. This time, it would be Juniata with the 4-1 lead. The Tigers would make the run necessary to tie up the match but the Eagles would score four points in a row to make the score 8-13. The Eagles would extend their lead to 18-9 later in the set. The Tigers would make a great effort but the lead was too big and Juniata would take the set and the match, 20-25.
Logan would lead the Tigers with 16 kills and Whatley would have 10. Fifth-year Nadia Kern would collect 23 digs.
