PENSACOLA, Fla. – The Gannon Volleyball program soared to new heights in 2017, advancing all way to the NCAA Division II National Semifinal match in Pensacola, Fla., on Friday (Dec. 8). The Lady Knights pushed the No. 21-ranked Florida Southern Moccasins to five sets but came out three points short of a national title game berth, 15-12. Florida Southern took the match, 16-25, 25-15, 25-23, 24-26, 15-12. Postgame comments from Gannon can be seen here.

The national semifinal run ties the furthest any Gannon women's athletic team has advanced in school history. Gannon closes out its season at 32-7, the fourth-most single-season victories in program history. The Lady Knights also eclipsed 30 victories for the sixth time.

Gannon made its fourth appearance in the Elite Eight tournament, under head coach Matt Darling. The Lady Knights won their first set and match in program history after being swept in three previous occasions (1991, 1992, 1993). Gannon defeated the No. 9-ranked Regis Rangers, 3-0, on Thursday (Dec. 7) night in the quarterfinal match.

Gannon opened up the first set with all the momentum, jumping out to an 11-3 advantage. Florida Southern followed with a four straight points, inching back to within 11-7. Gannon maintained its four-point advantage, 17-13, before an Ashley Kerestes kill and Ally Smith (Penfield, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) service ace extended the Lady Knight lead to 20-14. GU closed out the first set scoring five of the last six points to seal a 25-16 victory.

Florida Southern struck back in the second set. The Mocs bolted out to a 9-2 lead to start the set and continued the momentum to lead 14-5. Gannon used two kills from Ashley Beyers (Lanark, Ill./Eastland), Kelsey Ansec (Solon, Ohio/Solon) and a Florida Southern service error to get back within 14-8. Gannon couldn't close the gap, however, and dropped the set, 25-15.

Gannon used a quick start in set three to go up, 8-5. The Mocs followed with a 6-0 run to take an 11-8 lead. Down 13-11, Kerestes kick started a 6-1 run to reclaim a 16-14 lead for the Lady Knights. Gannon couldn't hang on, though. Florida Southern scored the seven of the last eight points, taking the set, 25-23.

The Lady Knights were determined in set four. They muscled out to a 13-9 lead, capped by a Maggie Wilhelm (Euclid, Ohio/Lake Catholic) kill. Gannon held a 21-17 lead before five consecutive Florida Southern points had the Mocs up 22-21. A Florida Southern service error tied the match back up at 22. The teams traded a pair of points before Ally Smith (Penfield, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) put Gannon on top, 25-24, with a kill. Kerestes delivered the set-winner as Gannon tied up the sets at two a piece with a 26-24 set victory.

The fifth and final set was a nail bitter. Gannon used two Ansec kills to push ahead, 6-3. The Mocs battled back with three consecutive points, tying it up at six. A. Smith gave the Lady Knights an 8-7 lead at the turn with a kill. A Nicole Mattson kill tied the match at eight and sparked a 6-1 run that gave Florida Southern a 13-9 lead. Gannon battled back to within 14-12 but Sydney Marshall clinched the match with kill for the Mocs, 15-12.

Florida Southern (30-6) made its fifth NCAA Division II Elite Eight tournament, advancing to the National Championship match for the first time in school history. They will face No. 3-ranked Corcordia-St. Paul in the title match. Concordia-St. Paul is the defending National Champion and has won eight of the last 10 titles.

Ansec finished the match with 20 kills and a .224 hitting percentage. She ended her career with 1,215 kills, just outside Gannon's top 10 in career kills.

A. Smith collected her 16^th double-double of the season, compiling 18 kills and 14 digs.

Kerestes was the third Lady Knight with double-figure kills, tallying 11 alongside five blocks.

Sara Crandall (Cattaraugus, N.Y./Cattaraugus-Little Valley) led the Lady Knights with 28 digs in the match. She ranks second all-time at Gannon with 1,872 in her career.

Beyers collected 47 assists and 25 digs to cap a stellar freshman campaign.

Gannon graduates seven seniors, Kelsey Ansec (Solon, Ohio/Solon), Anne-Mari Kaur (Tallinn, Estonia/Tallinn Lillekula Upper Secondary School), Brianna Brennan (Woodhaven, Mich./Woodhaven), Rebekah Smith (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili), Jordan Talevski (Willoughby, Ohio/Willoughby South), Sara Crandall (Cattaraugus, N.Y./Cattaraugus-Little Valley) and Maggie Wilhelm (Euclid, Ohio/Lake Catholic).