ASHLAND, Ohio. – What a comeback! The Panthers were on the road, down two sets to one, facing the number three team in the tournament, all of which DU overcame. Davenport completed an impressive comeback over the Eagles to advance to the GLIAC Semifinals for the first time in program history. The Panthers trailed 16-11 in the fourth set and needed to win the set in order to keep their season alive. Davenport won the fourth and then stunned the crowd of 447 at the Kates Gymnasium with a 15-12 win in the final set. During the match senior Ashley VanderHorst recorded her 1,000^th career kill as a Panther, becoming the seventh player to reach the one thousand milestone.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Final Score: Davenport 3, Ashland 2
Location: Ashland, Ohio
Records: Davenport 16-13), Ashland 25-6


 
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET SCORES: 21-25, 25-19, 27-29, 28-26, 15-12
 
The Panthers traveled to Ohio for their second GLIAC Tournament appearance in program history to face Ashland University. The Eagles of Ashland came into the match as the three seed and the favorite to win the match, Davenport had other thoughts in mind. The first set belonged to the Eagles, who rode the energy from their home crowd to a 1-0 lead. Ashland led by as many as five points in the set, but Davenport cut into the lead late, then Ashland recorded two straight kills for the set win.
 
Davenport knew that being down 2-0 in a conference tournament match, specifically on the road against a higher seeded team, would be a tough uphill battle for them. The Panthers came out in the second set and took care of business. Davenport went on a six-point run to build up a 13-6 lead, forcing a timeout by the Eagles. Ashland scored the next three points out of the timeout, then Sami White recorded a kill to end the Eagles run. Davenport did a stellar job of maintaining their lead down the stretch, never letting the Eagles closer than three points in the set. VanderHorst had back to back kills to help Davenport earn the set win and tie the match at 1-1.
 
The third set was a preview of what was to come later on in the match. The two teams needed extra points to determine the winner in a pivotal third set. The scored was tied 23-23 and was again tied at 24-24, 25-25, and then 26-26. Davenport had an opportunity to win the set after the Eagles had an attack error, giving DU the 27-26 lead. Ashland took a timeout and then scored the next three points out of the timeout for the 29-27 win. The Eagles took a 2-1 lead heading in the fourth set.
 
Things were looking gloom for the Panthers in the fourth set, as they were down 16-11 after giving up five unanswered points. Head Coach Megan Lenhart called a timeout and refocused her players. Davenport scored four straight points coming out of the timeout, giving them hope and momentum. The Panthers continued to claw their way back in the set. The Eagles led 24-21 and needed just one point to advance to the GLIAC Semifinals. Davenport fought for their lives, scoring three unanswered points to tie the set 24-24. During the stretch Jenn Kay Vander Meer and VanderHorst each had a kill, while Nina Rudnitsky had a service ace. Again, Davenport found themselves one point away from being eliminated, as Ashland led 25-24. However, the no quit attitude worked as Davenport tied the set 25-25. After the two teams swapped points the fourth set sat at 26-26. The next two points belonged to DU, one from a kill by VanderHorst and the set-winning point by Jessica Marvin and Hayley Kreiger on a block assist. The set win stunned the Eagles faithful who were in attendance and the teams played a fifth set to determine who would move on.
 
Davenport came out strong in the final set, building up a 6-3 lead after two attack errors by the Eagles. The Panthers lead grew to four points after scoring three straight, forcing Ashland to take their first timeout of the set. The Eagles fought back in the set, cutting the DU lead down to 12-11 after scoring three consecutive points. Davenport remained cool, calm and collected as they scored back to back points to take a 14-11 lead. The Eagles scored one point before the match-winning kill was blasted off an Ashland defender by Kreiger. The Davenport bench rushed to embrace the Panthers on the court.

STAT LEADERS
Kills-VanderHorst (18)
Aces-Jenna Asper (3)
Blocks-Marvin/VanderHorst (4)
Assists-Sydney Tracer (37)
Digs-Stehouwer (23)
 
DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Vander Meer: 13 kills and 18 digs

UP NEXT
Davenport advances to the GLIAC Semifinals after the win and will face Michigan Tech. The match is scheduled to take place at Ferris State University at 5:30 p.m. The winner will advance to the GLIAC Championship!





Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Picture credit: Tom E. Puskar