DUBUQUE, Iowa - After winning their second consecutive American Rivers Conference regular-season title, the No. 16 University of Dubuque women's volleyball team is set to begin postseason play Thursday, Nov. 12. The No. 1-seeded Spartans will host the No. 4 Wartburg College Knights in the A-R-C Tournament semifinals. The first serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in the Stoltz Sports Center.
The Spartans received a first-round bye after finishing undefeated in conference play, while the Knights advanced following a four-set victory over Nebraska Wesleyan University on Tuesday evening. The two teams met earlier this season on October 30, when the Spartans defeated Wartburg in four sets (25-17, 20-25, 28-26, 25-22).
About the Spartans
The Spartans finished their regular season with a 25-5 overall record after completing a perfect 7-0 conference season that has them currently ranked No. 16 in the AVCA Top 25 poll. The Spartans have put together an impressive season, with a strong offense and consistent defensive performances.
Leading the Spartans offensively is Delainey Winkel, who has recorded 511 kills so far this season. With her outstanding performance on offense, she is also a key player for the Spartans' defense, recording 367 digs.
Chloe Reiser also played an important role for the Spartans, recording 280 kills and 42 service aces. Caitlin Jensen and Halee Clare also contributed at the net, combining for a total of 444 kills and 182 total blocks. Running the offense was Alexis Kammerer, recording an impressive 1,270 assists, while Taylor Bechen held down the defense with 745 digs.
About the Knights
The No. 4 Knights faced No. 5 Nebraska Wesleyan in the opening round of the conference tournament on Tuesday night. After dropping the opening set, the Knights responded by winning three consecutive sets (17-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-20) to secure a 3-1 victory and advance to the semifinals.
Players to watch for the Knights include Ashlynn Hodges, who recorded 15 kills in the win against Nebraska Wesleyan, while Kaylee Koudelka added 14 kills and eight digs. Aspen Falk directed the offense with 32 assists, while Peyton Robinson led the defensive efforts with 26 digs.
What's at Stake
The winner of Thursday's semifinal matchup will advance to the A-R-C Tournament Championship on Saturday, November 14. They will face the winner of the other semifinal between No. 2-seeded Buena Vista University and No. 3-seeded Simpson College.
The championship match will be hosted by the highest remaining seed, with the tournament champion earning an automatic spot in the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Tournament. As the No. 1 seed, the Spartans would host the championship match with a victory over Wartburg.
