NEWPORT NEWS, Va.--Eastern University Volleyball's phenomenal 2014 season concluded on Sunday in the NCAA Division III Regional Finals against Christopher Newport University. The Eagles, who have made it at least as far as the Sweet 16 for the last four seasons, finished the season with an overall record of 31-6.
No. 13 Eastern collided with the No. 9 Christopher Newport University Captains, who were hosting the NCAA Regionals, and fell in three sets 25-18, 25-23, 25-17. Senior outside hitter Lauren Sproles and junior setter Rikki Schlager were named to the All-Tournament team.
The Eagles struggled to find a groove in the first set against a Captains' front row that repeatedly denied the Eagles' attacks. Despite hitting -.091 in the first set, the Eagles erased a five-point deficit and took the lead at 14-13. However, after calling a timeout, the Captains rattled off a 12-4 run to claim the first set.
In the second set, the Eagles' attack began to click and they knocked down 14 kills, nine more than the first set. The two teams battled through 17 ties and seven lead changes in the second set. Eastern took a 22-21 lead on Morgan Shemonski's third kill of the set. The Captains responded with two straight kills, but Erin Hillman's kill evened the score at 23-23. Hillman led the Eagles with nine kills. CNU sophomore middle blocker Hannah Miller, who was named tournament MVP, closed out the set with back-to-back kills. Miller led all players Saturday with 12 kills.
CNU stormed out in the third set to a 9-1 lead, but Eastern pulled to within three at 12-9 on a kill by Lauren Sproles. They remained within three points at 17-14 but were unable to catch CNU down the stretch.
Sproles tallied five kills in the match along with seven digs. Alicia Weigel added five kills as well. Libero Rylie Haas led all players with 21 digs.
With the season ending, Eagles' seniors Shannon Phillips, Katrina Pisch and Lauren Sproles wrap up their careers at Eastern after making the NCAA Regional Finals for four straight years and having won 129 games and four conference championships.
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