Crusaders Sweep the Regents
Maranatha 3, Rockford
25-23, 26-24, 25-22
October 27, 2009
Box Score
WATERTOWN, Wis. — The Maranatha Crusader volleyball team swept the Regents in front of a raucous home crowd in a Northern Athletics Conference match on Tuesday night. The Crusaders improve their record to 10-17, 3-9 in conference play.
It was a 3-set thriller for the Crusaders. The first set was neck and neck with 12 ties. The Crusaders and Regents were never separated by more than 3 points. With the score tied at 23-23, the Crusaders took the next 2 points on a kill by senior middle hitter Keelin Nissley (Alexandria, Va.) and a block by freshman middle hitter Alyssa Trivino (Green Lane, Pa.) and freshman outside hitter Mary Lynn Strayer (Andover, Minn.).
In the second set, the Regents jumped out to an early 10-5 lead. The Crusaders played catch-up almost the rest of the set as they came from behind by as many as 6 points (8-14, 13-19). Down 18-23, the Crusaders scored 5 straight points behind the serving of Nissley and kills by Trivino and freshman outside hitter Torey DeLozier (Watertown, Wis.). With the score tied at 24-24, the Crusaders scored on a service ace by DeLozier and a kill by senior outside hitter Julie Muse (Watertown, Wis.)
The third set was another close one. The teams were tied 14 times and were separated by 3 points only once—a 9-6 Regent lead. After the score was tied at 20-20, the Crusaders won five of the next seven points on 3 kills by DeLozier and the match-clinching kill by junior outside hitter Jenny Fredricks (Anoka, Minn.)
DeLozier led the Crusaders with 16 kills and a smoking .467 hitting percentage. DeLozier also had 10 digs. Junior setter Erin Fredricks (Anoka, Minn.) had 20 assists and 10 digs. Fredricks also had 2 service aces and was 15 of 15 on service attempts.
The Lady Crusaders (10-17, 3-9) can now look towards the NCCAA Midwest Regional Tournament hosted by Grace Bible College (Grand Rapids, Mich.) on October 30-31. The Crusaders will face Great Lakes Christian College at 11:30 a.m. on Friday. The winner of that match will take on the Archers of Moody Bible Institute at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. If the Crusaders can get past both Great Lakes and Moody, they will likely face Lincoln Christian University in the championship game at 1:00 p.m.