Athenas advance in NCAA Tournament after 3-2 win vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor

[Watch Post-game Interview]

[Watch Match Point]

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps volleyball team battled through a five set match against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor to win 2-3 (25-22, 25-27, 25-15, 26-28, 15-12) and advance to the NCAA regional semi-final hosted by Cal Lutheran. The Athenas next face Colorado College on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 3:30 p.m. for a rematch from last year's NCAA Tournament.

A very long first point was indicative of the upcoming intensity of the match. The Athenas won the first set 25-22, aided by a five point run on senior Megan Coleman's serve. Freshman Margaux Arntson (CMC) led CMS with six kills in the first set.

Arntson went on to have a season-best 25 kills on the afternoon, smashing her previous high of 14 kills in a game. Arntson hit .442 in the match with only six errors in 43 attacks. In the post-game interview she credited freshman setter Clara Madsen (CMC) for her success. Madsen had 36 assists in the match, another season-high.

The second set saw the scored tied on ten occasions with the Athenas having to play a defensive game late in the set. Mid-way through the set CMS had a six point advantage at 18-13 but the Crusaders scored on a few kills by Lauren Powell and a handful miscues by the Athenas. CMS fought off two set points before Mary Hardin-Baylor took the set 27-25.

The Athenas rebounded in the third set and seemingly won with ease, 25-15. Blocks by freshman Mariah Rigg (CMC), and senior Regina Mullen (CMC) made the difference, contributing to 3.5 team blocks in the set. The defense at the net held UMHB to a .000 hitting percentage, inducing as many errors as they had kills.

No more than three points separated the teams in the entire fourth set. Ultimately the Cru earned the last point on a big block by Natasha Evans and Cheyenne Dowdey to take the set and force a fifth.

In the final set, freshman Mikena Werner (SCR) came in to serve with the game on the line and contributed to the team win. Junior Audrey Breitwieser stepped up for the Athenas, slamming down the final point, assisted by junior setter Tanner Hoke.

With the win, CMS increases its record to 25-6 on the season and advances to the NCAA Regional semi-final to face Colorado College who beat Pacific Lutheran 3-1 earlier in the day.

Tournament Page

Box Score

Sign up for CMS Email Updates
Become a fan of CMS Athletics on Facebook: AthleticsCMS
Follows CMS Athletics on Twitter: @AthleticsCMS
CMS Athletics on Instagram: cmsathletics
Watch CMS Athletics videos on YouTube: ClaremontMuddScripps
#goathenas    #gostags