HOLLAND, Mich. - The University of Dubuque volleyball team had the fans on edge on Thursday morning. UD dropped the first two sets to Case Western Reserve University by set scores of 25-20, 25-18. The Cardiac kids would rally back from three match points to claim the third set win 26-24. UD would collect set four by 25-21 final and swept through. the fifth set by a 15-6 margin. 

The victory sets up two former Spartan assistant coaches, now head coaches and leading their teams into the 2024 NCAA Division III Volleyball Tournament Regional Semifinals. Karrah Davis (native of Dubuque, Iowa) became the University's 10th head volleyball coach in May of 2024 after serving as an assistant coach under April Elsbernd from 2021-2023. The Spartans will face the Millikin University Big Blue. Their head coach is Whitney Nichols who was an assistant from 2019-2021 earning her Master's in Sports Management in 2021 from UD. She was named Millikin's head coach in 2023.

The Spartans were led by the duo of Ashley Glennon and Emma Powell who both ended the match with 17 kills each. Not far behind was Payton Uptagraft who finished with 14 kills. Powell led both teams with a game high four aces in the Spartans rally. Uptagraft provided the defense in the middle with six blocks and Taylor Bechen led the match with a game high 28 digs. Powell added 25 digs and Glennon 11. Alexis Kammerer assisted in 35 attacks and Ashlyn McGinnis had 22 set assists.

The Spartans will face Millikin at 4:30 p.m. eastern time in the semifinals. The winner will advance to the finals on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 7:00 p.m. Millikin beat the Cornell College Rams in three straight sets to advance by set scores 25-23, 25-22, 25-19.

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