CLU Regals to Face Hardin-Simmons in NCAA First Round
ATLANTA, Ga. - The Cal Lutheran volleyball team will officially
make its 11th NCAA postseason appearance in program history on
Friday when it takes the court against Hardin-Simmons (TX) at 12
p.m. PST in the first round of the 2010 NCAA
Division III Volleyball Championship. The Regals are the second
seed in the eight-team regional hosted by Emory (GA) and all of the
matches in Atlanta this weekend will be broadcast live
online.
Regional Website: Emory
Regional
CLU will be making its third consecutive appearance in the NCAA
tournament and fifth appearance in the last six seasons.
Its first round opponent Hardin-Simmons was the American Southwest
Conference (ASC) tournament champions. The Cowgirls were tied for
first in the ASC after the regular season and went on to win the
conference tournament with a come-from-behind five-set victory
after they dropped the opening two sets of the championship against
Texas Lutheran.
This season Hardin-Simmons has been led by sophomore outside hitter
Madison Reyes and her 3.74 kills per set. Freshman outside
Christine Sas is second on the Cowgirls with 3.29 kills per
set.
CLU brings with it to Atlanta four All-SCIAC award winners
including the SCIAC Player of the Year after earning the regular
season conference crown with a 14-0 SCIAC mark and sweeping the
SCIAC tournament with a three-set sweep in the championship match
against La Verne.
The Regals are amidst a program-record 27-match win streak and will
put it on the line again Friday. Senior middle Allison Kerr became
CLU's all-time leader in career kills this season and was named the
SCIAC Player of the Year earlier this week. She leads the team in
kills (4.0 per set), hitting percentage (.444), service aces (52)
and total blocks (71).
Senior outside Megan Thorpe ranks second on the Regals with 3.91
kills per set to go along with her 2.84 digs per set. Thorpe was
named to the All-SCIAC First Team along with sophomore setter
Jackie Russell and junior right side Casy McWhirk earned second
team honors.
CLU and Hardin-Simmons are the second of four matches slated for
Friday. Southwestern (TX) and Thomas More (KY) will open the
schedule at 9:30 a.m. PST to be followed by the Regals and the
Cowgirls. Washington & Lee (VA) versus Mount St. Joseph (OH) is
scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. PST and the top seed Emory (GA)
will face off with Piedmont (GA) at 5 p.m. PST.
Friday's winners will advance to the "Emory Regional" semifinals on
Saturday that will be held at 12:30 p.m. PST and 3 p.m. With a win
on Friday the Regals will face the winner of the Southwestern and
Thomas More match on Saturday.
On Sunday the "Emory Regoinal" final will be held at 1 p.m. PST and
the victor of that match will advance to the elite eight in St.
Louis, Mo. to be held Nov. 19-21.
