Season Ends from Losses at NCCAA National Championship
KISSIMMEE, FL.-- The Houghton Volleyball team dropped two matches in day 2 of the NCCAA National Championship. Losing 0-3 to the #5 seed Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles and then again to the #3 seed Colorado Christian Cougars by the same 0-3 set deficit, brought the Highlanders 2014 season to a close.
Oklahoma Wesleyan challenged Houghton to compete at a high level from the very start of the match. In the first set the two teams went point for point in the 8-7 run. Houghton then had an 11 point rally, interrupted minimally. With an 18-13 lead, the Highlanders gave up 12 points while scoring only 3; losing 25-21. In the second set an early lead assisted in the 25-18 Eagle victory. The two teams were neck and neck throughout the 18-16 run in set three. Houghton's lead was soon diminished when Oklahoma Wesleyan scored 6 point consecutively. This momentum gave the Eagles the set victory, 25-23.
Meagan Palm (Lakeland, FL, Lakeland Christian) led the way with 9 kills, followed by
Hannah Compeau (Oxford, MI, Faith Christian) with 6 of her own.
Anna Coryell (Phelps, NY, Midlakes) was credited with a double-double, 22 assists and 13 digs. Defensively,
Laurel Wroblicky (Irvine, CA, Northwood) led the way with 14 digs.
The first set against Colorado Christian looked promising for the Highlanders. With a 12-4 Houghton lead, the Cougars would produce a 13 point run, while only allowing 5 Highlander points. Tied 17-17, the two teams went back and forth to force the Cougars to win by two, 26-24. By scoring early and often, Colorado Christian confirmed the 25-15 second set victory. Finding themselves tied 5 times during the set, the Cougars ran away with the 25-19 win by scoring the last 5 points of the game.
In the second match of the day,
Hattie Burgher (Selkirk, NY, Loudonville Christian) led the team on both offensive and defense with 8 kills and 14 digs. Wroblicky was a close second with 12 digs. Setter Coryell had 25 assists in the match.
These losses close out the Highlanders' 2014 season with a .500 overall record (17-17), while going 5-3 in the Empire 8 Conference.