MOUNT VERNON, Iowa - The No. 14 Washington University in St. Louis women's volleyball team fell in straight sets (25-20, 25-18, 25-18) to No. 4 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Friday, November 17 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The loss marks the end of WashU's impressive 2023 campaign. The Bears conclude the season with an overall record of 24-10.
Sophomore
Sam Buckley dished out a match-high 31 assists in the setback.
Defensively, Sells secured a team-high 16 digs. Additionally, junior
Elise Gilroy (14) and first-year
Ellie Laird (13) each registered double-digit dig totals.
The Warhawks topped the Bears in kills (43-35), blocks (10-2), assists (32-31), and digs (73-66).
In the first set, with WashU trailing by one, 10-9, UW-Whitewater went on a four-point run to grab the 14-9 lead. However, the Bears responded with a four-point run of their own to trim their deficit back to one 14-13. With the score even at 18-18, the Warhawks utilized a timely three-point run to stake the 21-18 advantage. With the score at 21-20, in favor of UW-Whitewater, the Warhawks earned the next four points to grab the first set, 25-20.
The Warhawks took the quick 8-4 lead in the second frame. UW-Whitewater pushed its lead to seven, 15-8, on a four-point run. The Bears cut the deficit to two, 18-16, later in the set. The Warhawks ended the second set on a three-point run to earn the 25-18 second set victory.
In the third, UW-Whitewater secured a six-point run to grab the 10-3 advantage. The early deficit was too much to overcome as the Warhawks punched their ticket to the regional championship match with a 25-18 third set victory.
The Bears will return to the court in the fall of 2024.
