Women's Volleyball

Going Dancing: Volleyball takes down JCU in 5 sets

Box Score

TIFFIN – It was far from easy, but the Heidelberg University volleyball team is headed back to the NCAA Tournament. The Student Princes trailed late in each set, making a few improbable comebacks to knock off John Carroll in five sets in the semifinals of the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament. The win for the Student Princes earns them the OAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, since they were the regular season champion and earned a spot in the tournament championship match, per OAC rules.

The NCAA Tournament berth is the seventh in Heidelberg volleyball history. The Student Princes now advance to face Ohio Northern on Saturday for the OAC Tournament Championship at 2:00 p.m.

KEY STATS

The Berg had to rally from behind in each of the sets they won. They trailed 19-13 at one point in the 1st set, 20-16 in the 4th set, and 9-4 in the 5th set before charging back to win.

Rachel Raimondo made a season-high 32 digs in an impressive defensive effort on the back line for the Student Princes.  Ellen Fay also had a big day defensively, recording a career-high 20 digs.

Sarah Parker had a team-high 21 kills and was called upon consistently towards the tail end of the match.  Those kills put her career total to 1,234, moving her into 4th place all-time at Heidelberg, passing Venessa Haase (1,232 kills, 2008-11).

FIRST SET

Early on, there was no separating the two sides as they battled to an early 7-7 tie. John Carroll would then go on a four-point rally, forcing the Berg to call a timeout. The Blue Streaks were able to get out to a 19-13 lead, but the Student Princes would not go quietly. A big rally was capped off by a block by Mariah Sullivan and Karlie DiRuzza to give the Berg the first set by a score of 25-22.

SECOND SET

The roles were reversed early in the second set, as Heidelberg took an early 10-5 lead. JCU was able to rally back, however, as they took a 13-11 lead. Despite the Student Princes taking a 16-15 lead after a Parker kill, the Blue Streaks were able to get back out to their two-point lead later in the set 19-17. JCU was able to hold that lead and then extend it late to pull away and even up the match, taking the second set 25-21.

THIRD SET

Neither team was able to get much of a lead early on in the third set until John Carroll opened up an 18-14 lead following a pair of errors by the Berg. The Student Princes were unable to fight back this time, falling 25-18.

FOURTH SET

JCU continued their momentum after some back-and-forth action in the fourth set. The Blue Streaks took a 20-16 lead late in the set, forcing the Berg to make a big rally if they wanted to remain alive. Heidelberg was able to do just that as a kill from Jamie Kluding capped off a ferocious comeback as they took the set 27-25 to force a fifth set.

FIFTH SET

After a booming kill by Parker to open the fifth set, things were looking up for the Berg, but the Blue Streaks had an answer right away. JCU roared back and took a 9-4 lead, putting the Student Princes on their heels. The Berg chipped away at that lead slowly before coming all the way back to tie up the set at 13. The third time was a charm for set point for Heidelberg, when an attacking error by JCU gave the Berg the set 18-16 to clinch the match.

QUOTES

Head coach Jason Miller on his team's performance: "I'm really proud of the girls for having the tenacity to keep fighting and their desire to win ... Defensively, John Carroll kept mixing things up on us ... We gave them some easy balls because we weren't paying attention to what was happening on the other side of the net."

Miller on the boisterous home crowd: "This is reminiscent of the years when we were a top 10 team with great crowds ... Our players love it ... What better place to play, in front of our fans ... There's no doubt that we have a huge advantage here."

All-American Sarah Parker on thriving under pressure: "We've come so far this season and worked so hard to get here ... We've all been playing since we were in fourth grade, so we all believe in each other, we all know we can do it ... it's just a matter of putting the ball away.

UP NEXT

Heidelberg moves on to the championship match of the OAC Tournament, which they will host on Saturday against Ohio Northern. That will take place at 2:00 p.m. in Seiberling Gymnasium. The Berg will be seeking just their second OAC Tournament Championship in school history, with the other coming in 2010.

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Players Mentioned

Karlie DiRuzza

#6 Karlie DiRuzza

S
5' 9"
Junior
Ellen Fay

#10 Ellen Fay

DS
5' 7"
Senior
Jamie Kluding

#12 Jamie Kluding

OH
5' 9"
Senior
Sarah Parker

#21 Sarah Parker

M
6' 2"
Junior
Rachel Raimondo

#1 Rachel Raimondo

DS
5' 0"
Sophomore
Mariah Sullivan

#14 Mariah Sullivan

MH
5' 11"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Karlie DiRuzza

#6 Karlie DiRuzza

5' 9"
Junior
S
Ellen Fay

#10 Ellen Fay

5' 7"
Senior
DS
Jamie Kluding

#12 Jamie Kluding

5' 9"
Senior
OH
Sarah Parker

#21 Sarah Parker

6' 2"
Junior
M
Rachel Raimondo

#1 Rachel Raimondo

5' 0"
Sophomore
DS
Mariah Sullivan

#14 Mariah Sullivan

5' 11"
Junior
MH