Point Park falls short at No. 25 Madonna (Mich.) in NAIA Volleyball Opening Rd
By Point Park Sports Information
LIVONIA, Mich. -- Point Park University volleyball scored enough points to win a couple of sets but was edged out by No. 25 Madonna (Mich.), 3-1, in the NAIA Volleyball National Championship Opening Round on Saturday in Livonia, Mich.
The first set gave the early advantage to Madonna (31-7, 14-2 WHAC), but it could have gone either way with a 30-28 set score. The Pioneers (20-15, 15-1 RSC) were down 2-0 after Madonna took the second second, 25-12.
Point Park came through with a 25-22 win the third, but the Crusaders got the clinching victory in the fourth, 25-17.
Madonna advances to the NAIA Volleyball National Championship final site Nov. 29 at Sioux City, Iowa, and Point Park ends the season at 20-15 overall and as NAIA national tournament participants for the third year in a row.
The Point Park senior class is the first one to lead the program to three straight NAIA appearances. The Pioneers qualified as River States Conference regular-season champions after running through the conference with a 15-1 RSC record. It was fourth time in six years that Point Park went to nationals.
Madonna, no stranger to the NAIA tournament with its 16th all-time appearance and a perennially ranked team, had the edge over the Pioneers in kills. Madonna had a 59-38 advantage in that category with Karlie Kelly and Amanda Hawkins coming up with 16 each.
The Crusaders collected 64 digs compared to 45 for Point Park. Ashley Taylor had a team-high 12 kills and 12 digs for the Pioneers. Emily Meng and Kirsten Burkes totaled seven kills each, and Nikki Inquartano had six.
Meng recorded 27 assists, seven digs and three blocks as well. Inquartano led the Pioneers' net defense with five blocks. Shiloh Simonson picked up eight digs, as did Julia Menosky. Simonson, the RSC Player of the Year, finishes her four-year career with over 1,100 kills and 1,550 digs.