Volleyball sweep over PLU propels Chapman into second round

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The No. 21-ranked Chapman University volleyball team made quick work of its first round opponent No. 16 Pacific Lutheran University (Wash.), defeating the Lutes in three sets (25-13, 25-15, 25-22) at the NCAA Division III West Regionals at the Gilbert Arena on Friday afternoon.

The Panthers return to the second round of the playoffs for the second straight season where they will face No. 12 Puget Sound (Wash.) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at the host site at Cal Lutheran University.

In a regional tournament that features six of the top-25 ranked teams in all of Division III, lower-ranked Chapman (24-6) pulled off a bit of a surprise with the three-set sweep over the Northwest Conference champions.

The clinching third set was the tightest of the match with Pacific Lutheran (20-6) leading through the first half and attempting to fight off elimination. Chapman finally took its first lead of the set at 13-12, but the score remained close thereafter. Trailing 19-18, the Panthers rallied to out-score the Lutes 7-3 and win 25-22 to earn the sweep.

Playoff-tested seniors OH Ashleigh Gideon and MB Kate Ferrin stepped up to lead Chapman offensively in the match. The duo led all players with 12 kills apiece, while Ferrin committed no errors and moved into fourth place in CU history with career 1,013 kills. Junior OH McKenna Roice added 11 kills.

The Panthers struggled to separate themselves early, but with the first set tied at 8-8 the Panthers warmed up. Chapman closed out the first set winning 17 of 23 points and created some momentum heading into the second frame.

In the second, Chapman led from start to finish to win 25-15. The Panthers turned a close 11-8 lead and extended it to 16-9 midway through the set, thanks in part to back-to-back kills from Ferrin.

All-West Region junior S Corrine Ostrovsky finished with 40 assists for Chapman and junior libero Carleigh Mueller earned a match-high 22 digs.

For Pacific Lutheran, sophomore MB Amy Wooten finished with a team-high 10 kills.

The Panthers' 24 wins equals last season's win total which tied a school Division III record. Chapman won an all-time school record 27 matches back in 1989.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/wvball/2012-13/boxscores/20121109_ulrz.xml

Watch the postgame press conference with Coach Cahill, Gideon and Val Geiger here

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