Posted: Apr 16, 2021
GEORGETOWN, Texas -- Playing on its home floor, third-seeded Southwestern University battled from down 2-1 to defeat sixth-seeded Texas Lutheran University, 3-2, and advance to the semifinal round of the 2020-21 SCAC Volleyball Tournament. Official Championships Website
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Southwestern won the opening set 25-18 but Texas Lutheran bounced back to take both the second and third sets, 25-21 and 25-15.
- The Bulldogs hit .379 in the third set and held Southwestern to .000 to take a 2-1 lead.
- TLU took a 12-6 lead in the fourth set, but the Pirates won the next six points to even the match at 12-12. From there, the two went back and forth with no team leading by more than three points, which included eight more tie scores at 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22 and 23. From there, Southwestern was able to string together two straight points and earn the 25-23 win and force the fifth and decisive set.
- After TLU took the first point, Southwestern took the next five and never trailed again, although the Bulldogs did get back to 9-8 after being down 9-4. The Pirates took six of the next eight points to close out the match.
SOUTHWESTERN STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Jessica Kuras: 9 kills, .643 hitting percentage
- Emma White: 11 kills, 2 service aces, 14 digs, 2 block assists
- Riley Brantley: 11 kills, 1 block solo, 2 block assists
- Lauren Crabtree: 13 kills, 21 assists, 16 digs
TEXAS LUTHERAN STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Madison Weisinger: 12 kills, 2 service aces, 5 block assists
- Hayden Smyers: 13 kills, 2 assists, 2 block assists
- Paige Day: 12 kills, 2 assists, 1 block assist
- Lexi Morris: 30 digs, 4 assists
NOTABLES
- This was the second consecutive year that Southwestern has defeated Texas Lutheran in quarterfinal play. Friday night marked the fourth time Southwestern and TLU have met in the SCAC volleyball tournament and SU is 4-0 in those matches.
- It also marks the 10th straight year Southwestern has advanced to the SCAC volleyball semifinal round.
- Southwestern had defeated Texas Lutheran twice during the regular season, 3-1 in both matches, on March 26.
- Southwestern's Lauren Crabtree posted her third consecutive triple double and her sixth of the season - which is tied atop all of Division III for triple doubles.
UP NEXT
Southwestern (9-4) advances to take on the second seed, Trinity, in a semifinal match next weekend on a date and time TBD. Texas Lutheran ends its season with a 5-12 overall mark.
