Top-seeded and second-ranked Washington University in St. Louis volleyball defeated third-seeded Rhodes College, 3-0, Saturday night to win the NCAA Central Region Championship at the WU Field House. With the win, the Bears (36-1) head to the national quarterfinals for the 19 th time in program history.
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The teams started game one trading points. Leading 17-16, Washington U. reeled off a 7-0 run, during which junior middle hitter Emilie Walk and sophomore setter Audra Janak notched two kills apiece. Senior middle hitter Whitney Smith recorded a solo block to make it 27-17, forcing Rhodes to burn its final timeout; WU went on to win the first game, 30-17. Walk and junior outside hitter Haleigh Spencer registered four kills each in the frame.
In game two, WU took a commanding 18-9 lead before prevailing 30-21. Walk ended the game with one of her four solo blocks; she finished the match with eight total blocks and nine kills.
Smith helped the Red and Green jump ahead 9-4 in the third game. WU extended to a 19-10 advantage when sophomore right side attacker Nikki Morrison notched her 10th kill. The Bears ended the match with a 30-20 win in the third frame.
Spencer led the Bears with 13 kills and 13 digs, while Smith registered 12 kills and four blocks. Janak finished with 27 assists and seven digs, and senior libero Amy Bommarito chipped in with a match-high 16 digs. WU hit .322 for the match.
Ally Squires paced Rhodes with 13 kills, and Crystal Jessee added nine kills. The Lynx hit just .081, as the Bears totaled 12 team blocks. Rhodes finished the season with a 29-12 overall record.
Washington U. will face Stevens Institute of Technology on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 3:30 p.m. (EST), in the national quarterfinals in Salem, Va.