Volleyball Quarterfinal Updates

--Tyler Madsen

We'll be posting updates from the four quarterfinal matches here throughout the day. Remember to listen to tonight's broadcast on ktrm.truman.edu or 88.7 FM if you're in Kirksville.

#16 Grand Valley State vs. Dowling (N.Y)
Grand Valley State 3-1 (-21, 27-30, -24, -25)
(No in-game descriptions available)

Though Dowling had three players record double-digit kills and actually put down more kills as a team than the victorious Lakers, the Golden Lions were only able to hit .064 against GVSU, notching 39 errors.

GVSU kept Dowling in each game by hitting only .125 of their own, but the two-headed attack of Megan Helsen and Tracy Kirk helped propel the Golden Lions to the win.

A notable statistic to keep in mind is that the two teams combined for 23 service errors (12 for GVSU, 11 for Dowling), something that could come back to haunt the Lakers in their Final Four matchup against the winner of the other semifinal.

#2 Concordia-St. Paul vs. #3 Tampa
Tampa 3-2 (27-30, -23, 28-30, -27, -11)

In one of the extremely anticipated quarterfinal matches, two of the top four teams in the nation squared off for the right to take on #16 Grand Valley State (Mich.) in the Final Four tomorrow evening. The University of Tampa and Concordia University-St. Paul were familiar with each other, having faced off on September 3, with CSP emerging the victor, 3-2.

CSP led 16-14 in Game 1 when junior outside hitter Stephanie Rivera served six straight points, giving the Spartans a 20-16 lead. However, CSP rallied right back, scoring four straight, before Tampa could stop the bleeding at 21 apiece. A Tampa timeout at 26-28 could not keep CSP from finishing off the Spartans, winning 30-27.

CSP jumped out to a 6-2 lead in Game 2, but Tampa was able to crawl back and knot the match at 10. The Spartans were able to get ahead by four, but a miscommunication on the Tampa side of the net allowed CSP to get a side-out and rattle off four points to tie the game at 22. As quickly as those points came, those points left as Tampa scored eight of the next nine to win 30-23.

The Golden Bears jumped out to an early lead again in Game 3, and once again, Tampa bounced back to tie the match at 12. The teams traded points before CSP finally regained a two-point lead at 25-23 on a kill by senior setter Cailin Terhaar. A service error by junior outside hitter Jessica Lucia gave Tampa the serve back at 24-26. CSP led 29-25, and three straight points by the Spartans made it close before a Monica McNamara kill polished off the game, 30-28.

Game 4 started out exactly the opposite of the previous games, as Tampa took the early 11-4 lead. The Spartans were able to develop a 23-15 lead at one point, but the Golden Bears were quick to remind Tampa that no lead is safe in the Elite 8, rattling off twelve of the next sixteen points to tie the game at 27-27. Two straight Tampa points put the Spartans at game point, and a Kayla Mora service ace sent the exciting match to a deciding Game 5.

The final game began nothing like the previous four, with neither team getting much of an advantage in the race to 15. CSP led 8-6 at the side switch, but a kill and ace by the Spartans tied the score at eight. The teams exchanged points until Tampa jumped ahead 12-10, prompting CSP coach Brady Starkey to use his final timeout. Match point for the Spartans rolled around at 14-11, and a kill by junior outside hitter Tarah Marinelli sealed the deal for Tampa, 15-11.

Tampa will take on GVSU tomorrow night at 5:00 in the first national semifinal.