Volleyball 11/10/2022 12:00:00 AM

Trevecca Volleyball | Trojans Sweep Cedarville; Advance to Great Midwest Semifinals

Box Score

ASHLAND, Ohio. – The Trevecca Nazarene University volleyball team (20-11, 11-6 Great Midwest) swept Cedarville University (13-15, 11-6 Great Midwest) in the Great Midwest Quarterfinals 3-0 (26-24, 25-21, 25-14) on Thursday night and advance to the Great Midwest Semifinals tomorrow night and will face #8 seeded Tiffin University (15-16, 8-9 Great Midwest) Friday at 6:30 PM (CT).

THE SERIES

The Trojans and Yellow Jackets clashed for the third time this season, the first meeting on a neutral court. The Trojans have won four of the last five meetings in the series. Cedarville had won the previous eight meetings.

The two schools have now met three times in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference tournament, with the first two in the conference championship. The Yellow Jackets won the 2012 edition of the tournament, while the Trojans finished off Cedarville with a sweep in the 2015 finals. Now the Trojans claimed a victory in the quarterfinals.

The Trojans and Yellow Jackets split the regular season series, with both sides protecting their home court in four sets. Cedarville controls the all-time series, 17-8.

THE FLOW

The first set was back and forth all the way through. Cedarville Jumped out to a 10-7 lead before the Trojans roared ahead to a 15-12 lead led by two straight service aces by Ellie Buffler. The set ended up tied at 24-24 when Emma Titus put the Trojans ahead, and an attack error gave the Trojans the first set 26-24.

Cedarville cruised to a 5-1 lead to begin the second set before the Trojans fought back to tie the game at 10-10. Cedarville again claimed a lead, and late in the set, the Trojans took back the lead on an attack error by Cedarville, which made it 19-18 in favor of the Trojans. From then on, it was all Trojans, as they finished off the set on a 6-3 run capped off by an Emma Titus kill as the Trojans took set two 25-21.

Set three was all Trojans as they got a 12-4 lead early, with multiple Trojans tallying on the run. Cedarville fought back late in the set, but an attack error by Cedarville would give the Trojans the sweep.

THE NOTES

Ellie Buffler tallied nine kills and six digs with three service aces. Emilee McDonald led the Trojans in hitting with a .769 mark and 10 kills, and 25 assists. She also had eight digs. Maddie Wilds finished with nine kills, five digs, and five assists.

SEASON REVIEW

The Great Midwest coaches picked Trevecca to finish second in the G-MAC South Division, and for most of the season, that is where the Trojans have been. Trevecca opened the season, winning all four matches in the second annual Ray Thrasher Classic. The Trojans added a five-match win streak all in league play midway through the season, knocking off KWC, Ursuline, Lake Erie, Malone, and Walsh. The last two on the road. Emilee McDonald was named the Great Midwest Defender of the Week twice this season (09/19/22, 10/02/22). Ellie Buffler was named the Great Midwest Player of the Week (10/10/22). Ellie Buffler was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Player of the Week (10/11/22).

EMILY MOORE NOTES

Coach Emily Moore, with the five-set win over Ohio Dominican, earned her 60th career win as Trojan head coach. Through four regular seasons, Moore holds an overall record of 61-47 with a 32-24 mark in league play.

Moore has the third most wins in Trevecca volleyball history after taking over the team prior to the 2019 season. Moore was the associate head coach for the Trojans during the 2018 campaign.

UP NEXT

The Trojans will play #8-seeded Tiffin University at 6:30 PM (CT) Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, in Ashland, Ohio. Tiffin defeated Ashland earlier in the day, 3-1, to advance to the Great Midwest Semifinals. The Dragons earned a season split with the Trojans this season and hold a 6-4 advantage over Trevecca after 10 all-time meetings. This will be the first-ever postseason matchup between the two teams.

TREVECCA'S HISTORY @ GREAT MIDWEST CHAMPIONSHIPS

2012	3-2 W	Urbana	Semifinals
	3-1 L	Cedarville	Finals
2013	3-0 W	Ursuline	Quarterfinals
	3-1 L	Ky Wesleyan	Semifinals
2014	3-0 L	Ky Wesleyan	Quarterfinals
2015	3-0 W	Ky Wesleyan	Quarterfinals
	3-0 W	Alderson Broaddus	Semifinals
	3-0 W	Cedarville	Finals *
2016	3-1 L	Ursuline	Quarterfinals
2019	3-2 L	Walsh	Quarterfinals
2020	3-1 L	Walsh	Quarterfinals
2021	3-1 W	Walsh	Quarterfinals
	3-0 L	Hillsdale	Semifinals
2022	3-0 W	Cedarville	Quarterfinals
		Tiffin	Semifinals