Morehead, Ky. – Lindenwood Beach Volleyball (15-9) won the Ohio Valley Conference Championship Friday with two wins over No. 5 Tennessee Tech and No. 4 Morehead State. I was able to go up and win. The Lions advance to the OVC semifinal game against #1 UT Martin on Saturday at 8 a.m. CT.
“Today was a historic day for this program,” interim head coach Tyler Fenter said. “Each pair made the decision to fight hard for their partner and ultimately for the team. What a special group of us who continue to fight!”
match 1
#3 Lindenwood – 3
#5 Tennessee Tech – 2
In a come-from-behind format, the Lions dropped 4-5 pairs to fall behind 2-0, but won their final three games of the day to advance and take on Morehead State later in the afternoon. They won all five sets in the first match of the tournament.
All-OVC first team tandem Nia Wilson and Mader Soto The Lions got back on track with a two-set win over TTU's Vera Powell and Madeline Isringhausen by scores of 21-18 and 22-20. They remain undefeated in the OVC Championship.
Abby Jacobs and katie malzahn He then won two sets against MK Roberts and Schuyler Boom with scores of 21-14 and 23-21, tying the duel at 2-2. Lindenwood was undefeated against TTU during the regular season and looked to continue that streak in the pair of threes.
After losing the first set 17-21 in the final match of the duel, Jesse Seidel and Annalee McWhirter They tied the series 1-1 with a 21-17 win over Brooke Ammann and Aleya Jones. Lindenwood trailed 7-12 at one point, but was able to catch up and eventually tie the third set at 14-14. McWhirter closed out the match with a kill, sending Lindenwood to play Friday's final against Morehead State.
amber shade and Elise Llorens He lost in five pairs with scores of 10-21 and 16-21, but abby vanbuskirk and kylie mcgi They also lost in 4th place with scores of 15-21 and 21-23.
match 2
#3 Lindenwood – 3
#4 Morehead State – 1
Lindenwood's fourth- and fifth-year students responded in a big way in Friday's second game, helping secure a berth to the OVC semifinals in the program's second season at Lindenwood.
Shade and Llorens got off to a strong start with a two-set victory over Amelia Knott and Courtney Fitzgerald in the fourth match of the weekend, 21-19, 21-16. The duo tied his OVC Championship overall record at 2 wins and 2 losses.
VanBuskirk and McGee were ready to avenge their loss with a come-from-behind victory in four games with a three-set victory over Tennessee Tech. The two won the first set 22-20, but dropped the second set 18-21. After trailing 4-1 early in the third set, the Lions scored six straight points to take a commanding lead and end the third set with a score of 15-13 against MSU.
Soto and Wilson were once again tasked with making a big splash for the Lions, and they did it in the one spot with Sidney Wyman and Vera Marita. The Lindenwood pair defeated MSU's Dupp in two sets with scores of 21-9 and 21-19, earning a spot in the OVC semifinals.
Lindenwood will play #1 UT Martin tomorrow at 8 a.m. CT for a spot in the OVC Championship against #2 Chattanooga. For more information, visit lindenwoodlions.com.