Asbury Sweeps Cougars on Senior Night

WILMORE, Ky. – After suffering their first loss in 19 matches on Wednesday the Asbury volleyball team bounced back with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-23, 25-9) sweep of conference rival Mountain State.  The Eagles have now won seven straight over the Cougars.

Asbury (32-5, 13-1 KIAC) move within one win of last year’s school record of 33, and will play twice in a tri-match at Union (Ky.) College on Saturday.  The Eagles have beaten Union twice three times this season already, and haven’t played Virginia Intermont since 2007.

Against Mountain State (10-17, 4-7 KIAC) the trio of Sarah Sterling, Brittney Rader and Dena Busse would lead the Eagles.  Sterling led the team with nine kills in the match, including four in the second set.  Rader and Busse would each finish with eight kills as Busse had four in the first and Rader recorded four in the third. 

The second set would be the only problem for the Eagles on the night, after taking a 20-13lead Mountain state would reel off nine straight points to take a 22-20 lead.  After a kill by Joy Peterson made it 23-21 Cougars, Rader and Busse would connect for a kill each as MSU would commit two attack errors and a ball-handling error to end the set.

Kelly Cole recorded 17 more digs as she entered the match seventh in the NAIA in digs on the season.  Mackenzie Burke added 22 assists and Jessie Bartlow had 13.   

Asbury honored their four seniors before the match, Lindsay Ibold, Monica Wright, Sarah Abiro and Dena Busse.  Their class has now recorded 116 wins in their career, the most for one class in school history.  They are also 34-3 in KIAC matches and will win a share of their third KIAC regular season title with a win against Brescia on Saturday November 5th.