Box Score The No. 5-ranked Emory volleyball team captured the NCAA St. Louis Regional of the NCAA Division III Tournament Sunday evening, battling to a thrilling five-set victory over host and No. 7-ranked Washington University in the championship match. The Eagles boosted their winning streak to 11 matches and raised their overall record to 37-3 following a 3-2 outcome (25-23, 19-25, 25-18, 25-27, 15-12) over the Bears who closed out their campaign with a won-lost ledger of 35-6. Emory advances to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships where it will face Williams College on Friday in Newport News, Virginia.
In a back-and-forth slugfest between familiar foes, Emory finished with a .265 (65-17-181) attack percentage compared to the Bears' .213 (56-20—169), the 38th time during the year that it enjoyed an edge in that category. The team's 65 terminations tied its third-highest total of the year. Wash U did conclude the contest with the better numbers in both digs (88-81) and total blocks (8-5).
The senior tandem of Leah Jacobs and Cat McGrath, along with sophomore Sarah Maher, shouldered the bulk of the Eagles' offensive attack with the trio combining for 49 kills. Jacobs led the group with 19 terminations, her 25th outing of the year with double digits in that category. Maher came through with 16 successful attack attempts, tying her second-highest career output, and registered a .317 hitting mark (16-3—41). Maher also contributed a personal best of 12 digs. McGrath was the Eagles' most efficient hitter, compiling a mark of .429 on the strength of a season-high 14 kills with two errors in 28 swings. It was her seventh performance of the season in 19 matches with double-digit terminations. Junior setter Sydney Miles doled out 52 assists while senior libero Kate Bowman once again led the team with 23 digs, her 12th contest of the year with 20 or more, and in the process moved into the No. 2 spot on the Eagles' seasonal chart with 649 digs.
Jacobs, McGrath and Maher all earned St. Louis Regional All-Tournament Team honors with Maher bringing home the MVP award.
Emory will play Williams College on Friday (Nov. 21) in the quarterfinals with that match slated for a 3:00 pm start. The Ephs, 28-4, landed their first Elite Eight bid since 2008 after defeating Bowdoin, 3-0, in the championship match of the Williamstown, Mass., Regional on Sunday.
St. Louis Regional All-Tournament Team
Jenna Fessler – Thomas More
Sara Dyslin – Hendrix
Caroline Dupont – WashU
Allison Zastrow – WashU
Leah Jacobs – Emory
Cat McGrath – Emory
Sarah Maher – Emory *MVP*
