MADISON, WIS. – With a trip to the NACC Tournament Final on the line, Women's Volleyball hosted Concordia Wisconsin Thursday evening at the Todd Wehr Edgedome. The two teams gave it their all in an Edgedome classic. Down 23-18 in a do or die fourth set, the top-seeded Eagles (24-6) pulled off an indescribable comeback for a 3-2 (25-14, 23-25, 25-27, 25-23, 15-8) over the Falcons (16-13).
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After the early salvos of the first set, Edgewood University took over the first set. Ahead 12-10, they finished off an impressive first set on a 13-4 stretch. They would only hit two attack errors.
- Concordia Wisconsin bounced back in the second set. Four in a row propelled by their offense pushed them ahead 13-10. A 5-2 rally late from the Eagles would close the gap to 24-23, but a kill from the Falcons would even the match.
- A 6-1 rally from Edgewood University seemingly had them in control of the third set ahead 13-9. The Falcons chipped away at the deficit and eventually overtook the Eagles 22-21, but three points straight had Edgewood University at set point. Concordia Wisconsin found an extra gear, forcing extra points and taking a 2-1 lead in the match on a 5-1 burst.
- The Falcons built up a 13-7 advantage in the fourth frame, but the Eagles evened the set with six unanswered as the defense took over. Concordia Wisconsin put together what seemed to be a decisive 5-1 run for a 23-18 advantage. Edgewood University would not be denied, putting together a momentous 7-0 explosion finished off by an ace from
Mia Hinkamper to roll into the fifth set.
- The Falcons appeared to take momentum back with a 5-1 run to kick off the tiebreaker frame, but the Eagles landed a crushing blow with a 13-2 barrage to complete the comeback and send them back to the NACC Tournament Final.
- Edgewood University's defense was pivotal in the victory, having a 106-to-94 edge in digs and a 16-to-8 gap in blocks.
- Hinkamper earned 28 digs and four aces in the victory. Five Eagles finished with double-digit digs, with
Jennacy Wille posting 10 of her own.
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Kate Gunderson and
Abbey Eivins stepped up on offense and defense with double-doubles. Gunderson posted 20 assists and 12 digs. Eivins tallied 29 assists and 11 digs with a pair of aces.
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Nida Zukauskaite and
Natalie Murphy stepped up on offense with 15 and 12 kills respectively. Zukauskaite added a pair of aces.
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Payton Millin anchored a ferocious effort at the net. She posted 10 blocks including several at key moments, while
Marina Hosticka and
Molly Amendt had six apiece.
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Katie Borchert proved her mettle as the NACC Player of the Year in the victory. She earned 23 kills with only four attack errors on 70 swings, 25 digs, and five blocks.
- Brianna Lundt shined in an incredible effort by the Falcons defense with a match-high 31 digs. Abbey Proefrock earned 13 kills and 16 digs.
- Ashley Habermehl paced the Concordia Wisconsin offense with 14 kills and recorded a double-double with 18 digs. McKenna Oetzman posted 28 assists.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Millin's 10 blocks is her career best and tied for fourth on the single match record books.
- Borchert's 23 kills and 25 digs were both personal bests.
- Murphy set a new career high with 12 kills.
- The 62 kills and 58 assists were season highs as a team. The 106 digs were the program's most as a team in a match since the 2022 season.
- Edgewood University has reached three straight NACC Tournament Finals.
UP NEXT
A showdown with the third-seeded Aurora Spartans awaits the Eagles at the Todd Wehr Edgedome Saturday. First serve is scheduled for noon in the NACC Tournament Final, with the championship trophy and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Tournament on the line.
