SHERMAN, Texas -- Playing on its home floor, and behind a match-high 14 kills from sophomore outside hitter Rachel Sadler, Austin College picked up its first conference tournament win since 2020-21, defeating Texas Lutheran, 3-1, in quarterfinal play of the 2024 SCAC Volleyball Tournament. Official Championships Website | Photo Album | Tournament Stats | Interview w Austin College Head Coach Ed Garza | Interview w/ Austin College senior right side TJ Folse
The 'Roos (21-13) advance to play Trinity University in Friday's first semifinal match, which is scheduled for 1 pm CT at Hughey Gymnasium on the campus of Austin College. Trinity defeated Schreiner University, 3-1, in an earlier quarterfinal match played at University of Dallas.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Texas Lutheran jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead, taking the first set, 25-20.
- Austin College bounced back and dominated the next two sets, winning 25-16 and 25-17 while outhitting TLU .163 to -.020 and .231 to .133, in sets 2 and 3, respectively.
- Both teams exhibited high-level volleyball in the fourth set, with the 'Roos outlasting the Bulldogs, 25-21, to take the match. TLU hit .371 in the final set while Austin College attacked at a blistering .405 percentage.
- The 'Roos were able to take advantage of 30 errors by the Bulldogs.
- For the match, Austin outhit Texas Lutheran, .226 to .188.
AUSTIN COLLEGE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Rachel Sadler: 14 kills
- Mattie Duncan: 13 kills, .429 hitting percentage, 5 blocks
- TJ Folse: 12 kills, 18 digs
- Madison Manning: 30 assists, 10 digs
- Laynie Kovacs: 6 service aces, 36 digs
- Brianne Tseng: 21 assists, 9 digs
TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Brylie Nedd: 12 kills, 16 digs
- Nadia Dunn: 11 kills, 3 blocks
- Ryann Ely: 10 kills, 3 blocks
- Shavonne Respondek: 8 kills, 14 assists, 16 digs
- Julia Chew: 27 assists, 8 digs
- Faith Coldewey: 7 assists, 38 digs
NOTABLES
- Austin College and Texas Lutheran had played the previous weekend in the regular season finale for both teams - the only meeting of the season between the two. Texas Lutheran won that match 3-0 on November 9.
- Austin College's Kovacs had six service aces in the match, the most-ever in a four-set SCAC tournament match and tied for the most in any SCAC tournament match.
- Austin College's eight service aces ties for the fourth-most ever in a four-set conference tournament match.
- This was the third meeting in the last four years and sixth all-time between the two schools in SCAC tournament play. TLU had won the previous five tournament matchups between the two prior to today's result.
- Austin College improves to 18-22 all-time in SCAC vollyeball tournament action while Texas Lutheran falls to 9-14.
UP NEXT
Austin College (21-13) advances to take on top seed, Trinity University (22-6), later this afternoon at 4:30 pm CST in the tournament's first semifinal. Meanwhile, Texas Lutheran ends its season with a 19-8 overall mark.
