Trojans Fall in CLT Quarterfinals Against Spring Arbor

CL Championships Central

UPLAND, Ind. – Taylor battled to a first set defeat before fading against Spring Arbor (23-9, 9-9 CL) in a loss in the Crossroads League Tournament Quarterfinals matchup on Saturday.

RV Taylor hit .042 with five athletes in the negatives while the Cougars looked polished with a .316 hitting percentage and no player with an attack under .222.

A competitive opening set saw Spring Arbor take an early lead before Ruth Anderson had a pair of kills in a 4-0 run to grab a 5-4 lead. The freshman middle had ten kills matching Ellie Frey for the team high.

Spring Arbor slowly pulled ahead until Lindsay Springer stepped to the service line and delivered a pair of aces as TU took five-straight points to knot the score at 16 apiece. The senior setter provided 16 helpers, reaching an agonizing 2,999 in her Taylor career.

The Cougars scored seven of the next eight and brief Trojan run was not enough to overcome the deficit as SAU pulled out the first set 25-22.

The second set began in similar fashion and a trio of early kills by Anderson had TU up 5-4. Spring Arbor took control thereafter and aside from a pair of blocks by Daya Vestal the Trojans got no closer than four in a 25-17 loss. Vestal notched five blocks in a strong defensive performance at the net.

The Trojans could get no momentum in the final set falling behind 9-1 while struggling to evade the Cougar block, which notched five of their six blocks in the third set.

RV Taylor (20-11, 11-7 CL) now waits to hear its fate for the NAIA National Tournament. The NAIA Women's Volleyball Selection Show will be on Monday, November 17 on Youtube beginning at 5:00 pm.