team
Matt Mead Photography LLC
2
Shepherd SHEP 29-7
3
Winner Gannon GAN 29-6
Shepherd SHEP
29-7
2
Final
3
Gannon GAN
29-6
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Shepherd SHEP 13 25 25 23 8 (2)
Gannon GAN 25 18 17 25 15 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Myles Johnson, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Gannon Edges Shepherd to Advance to NCAA Atlantic Region Championship

Gannon advances to the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship for the first time since 2017.

THE RUNDOWN
  • Final Score: No. 2 Gannon 3, No. 6 Shepherd 2
  • Set Scores: 25-13, 18-25, 17-25, 25-23, 15-8
  • Records: Gannon 29-6, Shepherd 29-7
  • Location: Wheeling University | McDonough Center | Wheeling, W. Va.
  • The Short Story: Ashley Beyers (Lanark, Ill./Eastland), Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) and Ally Smith (Penfield, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) each contributed a double-double to power second-seeded Gannon past sixth-seeded Shepherd, 3-2, in the NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament on Friday night.
 GAME DAY MEDIA CENTER HOW IT HAPPENED
  • After trading points to open the match, Gannon took its first lead of the night, 4-3, following a block from Smith. The Knights then began to roll offensively pushing their up to five, 13-8, after a kill from Sampson. Gannon won the opening set, 25-13.
  • Shepherd pushed back in the second set creating a 6-2 edge following a 4-0 run. Gannon then erupted with a 9-1 run capped off by kill from Ashley Kerestes (Loves Park, Ill./Rockford Lutheran) to make score 11-7. The Rams then constructed their own 12-3 run to regain the edge, 20-14. Shepherd won the second set, 25-18.
  • The Rams started to gain momentum after they ran out a quick 7-1 lead. Gannon answered with a 5-1 run to pull with two, 8-6, after a Kenzie Lasher (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) service ace. Shepherd responded to push its edge back up seven, 17-10. The Rams went on to take the third frame, 25-17.  
  • The teams exchanged points in the fourth set which saw a match-high nine tie scores and two lead changes. The Knights were able to slowly build a late, 20-16, edge after a Smith kill. The Rams made one final surge to pull within one, 24-23, but Kerestes connected on a set-winning kill to seal the 25-23 win.  
  • Gannon stole the momentum in the fifth set jumping out to a 7-2 lead after a Sampson kill to force a Shepherd timeout. After both teams exchanged points, Gannon rattled off three straight points featuring two kills from Smith to extend its lead to 14-7. Gannon closed out the set to win the frame, 15-8.
GAME NOTES
  • This season marks Gannon's 11th straight and 17th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.
  • Gannon advances to the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship for the first time since 2017.
  • The match featured 16 tie scores and five total lead changes.
  • Beyers notched her 10th double-double of the season with a match-best 51 assists and career-high 26 digs. It marked her fourth time this season producing at least 50 assists in a match. 
  • Smith contributed her 16th double-double of the season with a match-high 18 kills and 11 digs. She has reached double digits in kills in her last eight straight matches.
  • Sampson registered her third straight and ninth double-double of the season with a career-high 22 digs and 17 kills. She has posted double figures in kills in her last four matches.
  • Toni Leitshuh (Manhattan, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) registered 13 digs with a match-high three service aces. She has tallied double digits in digs in her last 25 matches.
UP NEXT
  • Second-seeded Gannon advances to the Atlantic Region Championship tomorrow and will face the winner of top-seeded Wheeling and fifth-seeded Millersville. First serve is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at McDonough Center.  
Print Friendly Version