Box Score

RIVER FOREST, Ill. – The Edgewood College volleyball team faced more adversity in the Northern Athletics Conference Tournament, and once again they were up to the challenge. The Eagles were two points from a sweep of top-seeded Dominican in the third set, and then held off a Stars rally in the fifth set for a thrilling 3-2 victory in the title game. The win puts Edgewood College into the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in school history.

Dominican (28-6) opened up an 11-7 lead in the first set before Edgewood College (21-13) called a timeout and made a run. Mallory Palmer sparked a 6-0 spurt with back-to-back kills and Kristin Manske followed with consecutive aces to force a Star timeout. Palmer and Sarah Schuchhardt recorded kills to put the Eagles up 15-12 after the timeout. Edgewood College held that lead and Palmer ended the 25-18 first set win with another kill.

The second set was tied at 19 before the Eagles took control. Jessica Martin put the Eagles ahead with one of her 12 kills in the match and Palmer followed with an ace. Martin had another kill and after a Star setting error, the Eagles forced a Dominican timeout leading 23-18. Aryn Wellnitz gave the Eagles a chance at set point and Manske ended the set with one of her six kills. Edgewood College took a 2-0 lead with the 25-21 second set win.

Edgewood College looked primed and ready to take the clean sweep in the third set, but the Stars didn't give up. The Eagles held a 23-20 advantage when Claire Dezelski started a run with a kill. Dezelski recorded another kill on the 5-0 run, giving the Stars the 25-23 set win. Dominican carried their momentum to the fourth set, en route to the 25-15 set victory and forced a decisive fifth set for the NAC Title.

Palmer and Schuchhardt quickly thwarted the momentum to start the fifth set, as Palmer recorded and kill and Shcuchhardt pounded home consecutive kills to put the Eagles up 3-0. The Stars answered with a 4-0 run before the set went back-and-forth. Jacy Lawrence tied the set at 11 before Palmer and Schuchhardt answered with back-to-back kills. Lawrence recorded another kill before Wellnitz gave the Eagles a pair of chances at championship point. Lawrence had another kill and the Stars evened the set at 14 before Martin gave the Eagles an all-important side out. Martin and Manske teamed up for a block to give Edgewood College the 16-14 win and the NAC Tournament Championship.

Palmer led the Eagles with 19 kills and 23 digs for her fourth straight double-double. Martin and Schuchhardt followed with 12 kills apiece while Wellnitz and Manske recorded six kills apiece. Laura Sweeney and Sam Himmelspach were the only two Eagles in double figures with 17 and 14 digs, respectively. Lindsey Swansby led the Eagles with 51 assists.

With the win, Edgewood College earns their first NAC Tournament Championship and qualifies for the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championships. The Eagles last played in a national tournament in 1994, when they reached the NAIA National Tournament.

Edgewood College will learn their first round opponent and regional site in an NCAA Selection Show webcast on Monday morning at 10:00 a.m. Anyone interested in viewing the tournament selections are welcome to join the team at 10:00 a.m. in Wingra Café at Edgewood College. EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com will post the bracket as soon as possible after the selections are announced.