RSC Volleyball Day 1 Recap: No. 1 seeds sweep, divisional matchups set for semifinals
RSC Volleyball Day 1 Recap: No. 1 seeds sweep, divisional matchups set for semifinals
RICHMOND, Ind. -- The two No. 1 seeds and the two No. 3 seeds are the four schools that remain in the River States Conference Volleyball Tournament after Friday's quarterfinal matches. The tournament is being held at IU East.
Host IU East and fellow No. 1 seed IU Kokomo both cruised to 3-0 victories over IU Southeast and Ohio Christian, respectively, to start the day. The afternoon matches had WVU Tech beat Brescia and Asbury top Point Park as both No. 3 seeds prevailed in their matchups with the No. 2 seeds.
That sets up Saturday's semifinals with both of them being divisional opponents squaring off. IU Kokomo (29-8) faces Asbury (19-7) at 9 a.m. in the first semifinal, a matchup of RSC West teams. Then IU East (19-18) plays WVU Tech (24-13) at 11:30 a.m. in a meeting of RSC East schools.
The championship final is set for 2:30 p.m. The RSC Tournament champion will earn automatic qualification to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. If IU Kokomo reaches the finals, then both finalists will be guarnateed an NAIA bid since the Cougars are already ensured of an invite as RSC regular-season champions.
Follow the RSC Volleyball Tournament on RSC Game Central presented by Stretch Internet with Live Video of all matches. Live Stats is available on Dakstats. Follow the tournament on Twitter @RiverStatesConf, @RSCScores and at hashtag #RSCVOLLEYBALL.
The following are recaps of each quarterfinal match from Friday courtesy of IU East Sports Information:
IU EAST 3, IU SOUTHEAST 0
RICHMOND, Ind. - IU East overcame deficits in all three sets to start the River States Conference tournament with a 25-22, 25-23, 25-19 win against Indiana University Southeast.
The Red Wolves, the No. 1 seed from the East Division, are 19-18. The grenadiers finish 17-20.
Madison Yoder had 23 digs and five aces for IU East, including a string of four aces in a row late in the first set that turned the momentum of the match.
Monica Loftus had eight kills for IU Southeast.
IU KOKOMO 3, OHIO CHRISTIAN 0
RICHMOND, Ind. - Two time defending champion IU Kokomo started its River States Conference tournament run with a 25-15, 25-14, 25-17 win against Ohio Christian.
The Cougars, the No. 1 seed from the West Division, are 29-8 after their 23rd consecutive win. The Traqilblazers, the No. 4 seed from the East Division, are 13-20.
Lindi Thomas had 13 kills without an error and a .419 hitting average for IU Kokomo.
Lexi Jacobs made 13 assists for Ohio Christian.
WVU TECH 3, BRESCIA 2
RICHMOND, Ind. - WVU Tech pulled off the upset of the day at the River States Conference tournament, beating Brescia 22-25, 25-18, 25-16, 16-25, 25-11.
The Golden Bears, the No. 3 seed from the East Division, are 24-13. The Bearcats, the No. 2 seed from the West Division, are 22-14.
WVU Tech finished the match with a 9-3 run. Katelyn Byrd went for 21 kills for the Golden Bears.
Natalie Jones had 22 kills and 18 digs for Brescia.
ASBURY 3, POINT PARK 1
RICHMOND, Ind. - Asbury concludes the first day of the River States Conference volleyball tournament with a 25-21, 25-20, 23-25, 25-17 win against Point Park.
The Eagles, the No. 3 seed from the East Division, are 20-7. The Pioneers finish 21-14.
Madeline Morris has 12 kills to lead three Asbury players in double digits.
Meg Reineke had 14 kills for Point Park.