DENVER, COLORADO — The Angelo State University volleyball team faced its toughest playoff test so far but hung on for a 25-18, 25-20, 22-25, 27-25 win over Lubbock Christian on Thursday in their opening match at the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament.
The match was one point away from heading to a fifth and final set, but the No. 3-seeded Rambelles won the last three points to hold off the No. 6 Lady Chaps.
It was the 12th straight win for ASU, and the Belles had dropped only two sets in their last 11 matches. They had also swept their previous two matches against LCU, including in the Lone Star Conference Tournament final.
ASU appeared to be on the way to another sweep Thursday, but the Lady Chaps rallied to win the third set, and they jumped out to a 15-11 lead in the fourth set.
The Belles fought back, however, and led 24-22 before LCU erased both set points to take a 25-24 lead.
With the match on the brink of going to a fifth set, ASU’s Madi Parrish tied the score with a kill, then Demi Carter had back-to-back kills to finish it off.
ASU improved to 25-7 and advances to play No. 7 Colorado Mines after the Orediggers stunned No. 2 UC-Colorado Springs in five sets. The Belles’ regional semifinal is set for 5 p.m. Friday.
ASU is the defending regional champion and needs two more wins to win the title again and advance to the national tournament. The Belles reached the national semifinals last year.
Parrish, the region’s Player of the Year, had a team-high 18 kills Thursday, while Carter had 15 kills.
Gabi Ashcraft dished out 26 assists, pacing the offense with Madison Scrivner, who had 23 assists.
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