Rocky Mountain milestone: Volleyball reaches 20 wins

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – For the first time since 1994, the Chapman University volleyball team has reached the 20-win mark after going 3-1 at the Molten Spike It Up Classic in Colorado Springs, Colo. over the weekend. The Panthers are now 20-8, reaching the 20-victory plateau for the seventh time in school history. It's just the second time since moving to Division III in 1994 when the Panthers went 23-8 that season.

Chapman's only loss in the tournament came at the hands of host and No. 13-ranked Colorado College on Friday afternoon – a three-game sweep 25-13, 25-16, 25-16 to the Tigers. That loss snapped the Panthers' five-match winning streak which was extended earlier in the day with three-set sweep over Webster University (Mo.) 25-15, 25-19, 25-18. Chapman started a new streak on Saturday by beating York College (Pa.) and then the milestone win against UC Santa Cruz.

The Panthers were led by junior MB Kate Ferrin and junior OH Ashleigh Gideon, who recorded 44 and 42 kills apiece in the four matches. Gideon's 18 kills and 14 digs versus UC Santa Cruz helped the Panthers to four-set win 25-19, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23 over the Banana Slugs for the second time this season. Ferrin earned double-digit kills in three of the four matches.

Against York, Chapman rallied after losing the first set 25-23 to win the next three 25-6, 25-22, 25-22, led by junior OH Laura Posada's 15 kills. Sophomore S Corrine Ostrovsky had 42 assists and senior L Alyssa Swatek finished with 25 digs and four service aces. Swatek totaled 12 aces in the tournament.

Ferrin and Posada were each named to the All-Tournament team for Chapman.

The Panthers have just three regular season matches remaining, two of those at home. The Panthers will host Arizona Christian at Hutton Center on Friday at 7 p.m.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Season Stats: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/wvball/2011-12/teams/chapman