BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - Rising to the occasion for the program's first taste of the NCAA postseason, No. 7 Cedarville edged No. 2 Findlay in five sets during Midwest Regional volleyball action on Thursday.
Both teams slugged it out in five games before the Yellow Jackets came out on top, 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 22-25, 25-20, 15-10). Cedarville raced out to an 8-2 lead in the decisive fifth frame before officially completing the upset.
The Great Midwest Athletic Conference regular-season and tourney champion Yellow Jackets (27-8 overall) beat the Oilers (21-10 overall), set to join the G-MAC for the 2017-18 academic year, for the second time this season.
Both Cedarville and Findlay had won in four sets as the home team against each other. This also marks the first regional win recorded by a G-MAC team in the volleyball national tournament.
Cedarville now quickly turns its focus to No. 3 seed Lewis, victorious against No. 6 Ashland earlier this afternoon.
The Yellow Jackets and Flyers (26-7) of the Great Lakes Valley Conference will meet tomorrow in Jim Wink Arena on Ferris State's campus at 5 p.m. EST.
The winner would advance to Saturday's regional final against either No. 1 Ferris State/No. 8 Truman State or No. 4 Rockhurst/No. 5 Saginaw Valley State. The start time is also set for 5 p.m. EST.
Live video (no audio commentary) and stats will be available for the viewing fans at home.
Junior outside hitter Krissy Pratt shined on the big stage in a valiant effort after being attended to during an injury sustained during the match. She returned, and had a strong .458 hitting percentage following 14 kills on just 24 swings.
Pratt was matched with 14 kills by sophomore Taylor Wilkerson while senior Abby Shelton tied for the match high with 15 kills. G-MAC Player of the Year, AVCA Midwest Region First Team member and D2CCA Midwest Region Team selection Gabby Olson, added 11.
Senior setter Kristin Cardwell had 48 assists and senior libero Angela Becker led the way with 21 digs. Cedarville had a total of seven All-G-MAC selections this season.
The Yellow Jackets had work to do after falling behind through three frames, 2-1. The fourth set didn't start out promising following a 6-1 Findlay run, but Cedarville buckled down and countered with a 7-3 run to take the lead at 14-13.
Pratt and Olson keyed a 4-0 run later to seize momentum for good and force the fifth game.
Findlay's star outside hitter Hannah Tong, the D2CCA Player of the Year and GLIAC Attacker of the Year, had 15 kills, but was limited down the stretch as the Cedarville defense zeroed in.
A combined block by Wilkerson and Olson up front gave the Yellow Jackets an 8-2 lead in the fifth set before Pratt nailed down the match's final point.