ASTON, PA. — Despite rallying from a 2-0 match deficit, the Hiram College volleyball team fell short of Eastern (Pa.) University, 3-2 (23-25, 9-25, 25-20, 25-20, 13-15), tonight (Saturday, Nov. 12) in a semifinal match of the NCAA Division III National Tournament Regionals on the campus of Neumann University in Aston, Pa. [Match Statistics]
With the loss, the Terriers end their season with a 27-9 overall record. Eastern improves to 34-2 overall and will advance to take on Juniata (Pa.) College in the regional championship match tomorrow.
Leading the Hiram offense was senior All-North Coast Athletic Conference middle hitter Andrea Kaminksy (Canton/GlenOak) with 19 kills. Senior two-time AVCA All-Region outside hitter Shaina Bryan (South Euclid/Brush) was second with 13 kills. Senior setter Taylor Summerfield (Warren/Howland) tallied a team-high 31 set assists and was followed by freshman setter Audriana Lucha (Perry/Lake Catholic) with 16 assists. Junior outside hitter Ariel Pund (Macedonia/Walsh Jesuit) had three service aces and senior AVCA All-Region middle hitter Kristi Opfer (Garrettsville/Garfield) and freshman libero Regina Zyle (Cleveland/Beaumont) both added two aces.
The defense was led by Zyle with 27 digs. Bryan was second with 25 digs and Pund added 12 digs. Opfer posted a team-high eight total blocks.