DUBUQUE, Iowa - For the first time since 1982, the University of Dubuque volleyball team completed their conference record unblemished. The 2023 A-R-C Champion Spartans earned the outright regular season championship after beating the Wartburg College Knights in four sets (15-25, 28-26, 25-13, 25-15) on Wednesday night and ending the Knights season.
In the opening set, Wartburg grabbed the early lead, closing out set one on 10-1 run. In set two, the battle continued through eight different lead changes. Halfway through the set, the Spartans trailed 18-13. Three consecutive kills by freshman
Halee Clare,
Ashlee Adler, and
Emma Powell brought the Spartans within two (18-16). A few plays later, a kill from
Alexis Bedier evened the game at 21-21. Three different times the Spartans served match point but Wartburg responded with a point every time to force the eighth and final tie of the set at 26-26. On the next play, Powell sent her eighth kill of the set over the net to take the lead eventually winning 28-26.
With momentum on their side, the Spartans dominated for a third set win 25-13. Quickly, the Spartans jumped out to an 11-2 lead thanks to a 10-0 run. The Spartans executed from the service line with a total of seven service aces, including two from
Morgan Hunter and
Ashlyn McGinnis. As one final set, stood in front of the Spartans between an outright regular season conference champion, the Spartans went to work. With the score tied at 9-9, a 10-0 run fueled the Spartans to victory.
Head coach
April Elsbernd praised the efforts of the senior leadership that this team displayed. "To have seven seniors in your program who have really wanted this from freshmen year and stayed together through the trials of Covid is a testament to their will and determination. This group stayed the process, kept calm, and took the opportunity when it came to them and I'm so happy for them to experience this".
On the night, the Spartans were led by seniors Powell and Adler with 18 and 17 kills respectively. Setters
Alexis Kammerer and McGinnis combined for 39 of the team's 44 assists. Senior,
Katie Wright recorded a team high 20 digs and freshman
Caitlin Jensen led the team with four block assists and one solo.
Up Next
The #1 seed Spartans (21-8 overall, 8-0 in A-R-C) will host the semifinals of the A-R-C Tournament and earned home court advantage. UD will host the winner of the #5 seed Central College at #4 seed Simpson College on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 7:00 p.m. on Jon Davison Court in Stoltz Sports Center.
