Hawks get knocked out of opening round of NCAA Tournament in straight sets
ST. LOUIS — The Quincy University women’s volleyball team couldn’t escape its late-season tailspin.
Facing fifth-seeded Grand Valley State in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional on Thursday night, the fourth-seeded Hawks endured their first negative attack percentage of the season and were ousted with a 25-18, 25-10, 25-12 loss on the Missouri-St. Louis campus.
Quincy ends its season at 24-6, having reached the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season. However, the Hawks lost five of their final six matches, including getting upset by Maryville in the opening round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.
Grand Valley State scored the first four points of the first set and never trailed in either of the first two sets. Quincy opened the third set by scoring the first three points on Brianna Merkel’s serve, but Grand Valley State went on a four-point run to take a 7-4 advantage and never trailed again.
A nine-point run turned a 12-8 lead into a 21-8 advantage and ended the Hawks’ season.
Junior outside hitter Emma Wijnbergen led the Hawks with nine kills, while Merkel had 12 assists and Amber Glen had nine digs.
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