COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A promising start concluded with a disappointing ending as the Southwestern University women's volleyball team lost in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference semifinals to the host Colorado College 3-1 (21-26, 26-24, 25-17, 26-22).
"We had moments of playing some fantastic volleyball and executing a quality game plan," said Southwestern head coach Don Flora about his team's effort throughout the contest. There are key points or plays that can change the rhythm of a match and Colorado College made some important plays at key times."
That key moment was when the Pirates (16-11) looked to be running away with the contest in the second set leading 21-15 but the Tigers (21-8) utilized an 11-3 run to take set two 26-24 in come-from-behind fashion.
Unfortunately for Southwestern during the run Colorado College went on, a total of six attack errors by the Pirates led to their downfall. Southwestern committed just two attack errors in the previous 38 total points during the second set.
After the Tigers rode the momentum from the second set victory to take the third set, Southwestern did not give up and made one last ditch effort to save its season in the fourth set while playing in the hostile environment at Colorado College's El Pomar Sports Center.
Southwestern would cut a 16-10 deficit all the down to 18-17 with a 7-2 run thanks to kills from Jessica and Christina Kuras as well as Riley Brantley, a service ace from Annika Flora and a solo block from Lily McWhorter as well as block assists from Jessica Kuras, Brantley and McWhorter.
From then on, both teams all but traded points until Colorado College ended the hopes of a Southwestern trip to the championship match with a 25-22 victory in the fourth set.
"We competed and supported one another throughout the entire match," added Coach Flora. "Our staff continues to be deeply proud of how this team stuck together through adversity and kept learning and growing every day."
Emma White compiled a double-double when she scooped up 11 digs to go along with the 13 kills she put down on the evening affair.
Christina Kuras led the way on offense for the Pirates with 15 kills while hitting at a .294 clip with just five attack errors in 34 attempts and was named to the SCAC All-Tournament Team for her efforts as well.
Brantley had a strong performance with 10 kills, five digs, four block assists and a service ace while teammate McWhorter was a beast at the net with two block solos and four block assists.
Libero Geneva Nedrow chipped in 11 digs while the two-headed setting monster of Annika Flora and Claire Romo combined for 39 assists with Romo staking claim to the most with 25.
The loss all but ends the postseason hopes for the Pirates who will await word from the NCAA Division III women's selection committee on if they will make the tournament or not.
