WINGATE, N.C. - The sixth-seeded Lander volleyball team gave third-seeded Armstrong Atlantic State University all they could handle and more Friday in the first round of the NCAA Divison II Southeast Regional, but fell to a late AASU rally, 3-2, in Cuddy Arena. The Pirates defeated Lander, 23-25, 23-25, 25-17, 28-26, 17-15.
Armstrong Atlantic, which rallied from a 14-9 deficit in the fifth game, improves to 26-6 and advances to Saturday's regional semifinal to face the winner of Lincoln Memorial University/Carson-Newman College. Lander ends the season at 22-12. AASU won the Peach Belt Conference regular-season and tournament championships this season.
Seniors Kerri Sorensen, Kay Stewart and Marina Camps led the way for the Bearcats, who were making their first-ever appearance in the NCAA tournament. Sorensen had 23 kills and 11 digs, Stewart had 22 kills and eight digs, and Camps 22 digs. Candace LaRocca posted 59 assists and 20 digs, while Ashley Ferry had 11 digs and Magi Nottingham 10.
For Armstrong Atlantic Torrie Bevolo had 21 kills and 26 digs, Rindy Vidovich had 18 kills and 15 digs, Michele Remlinger 19 kills, and Gwendolyn Clarke 14 kills. Hannah Segebart recorded 70 assists, while Casey Howett and Marina Marinova added 15 digs each.
The Bearcats trailed in the first game, 19-16, but fought back to take a 24-23 lead thanks to some timely blocking - four in all in the game - then got a back row kill from Nottingham on set point to take the game. AASU jumped out to a 14-11 lead in game two, but again the Bearcats rallied, scoring the final two points to win by a 25-23 score.
In the third game, the Pirates jumped out to an 8-3 lead, extended that lead to 22-14 and held on for a 25-17 win, thanks in large part to Vidovich's eight kills. The fourth game, however, saw the Bearcats jump out to an 18-14 lead. The Pirates went on a run behind the serve of Brendyce Budd, scoring seven straight points to take a 21-18 lead, but again the Bearcats fought back. With a third game in the match going to 23-23, the Pirates fought off two match points at 23-24 and 25-26, eventually taking game four, 28-26. This time Bevolo led the way with eight kills in the game for the Pirates.
Lander took control in the fifth game, opening up a 7-1 lead thanks in large part to two blocks, a ball-handling error by the Pirates and a service ace. AASU chipped away at the lead and closed to within one, 9-7, but three straight kills by Lander's freshman Nottingham helped give the Bearcats a seemingly insurmountable 14-9 lead. AASU staved off five match points, finally putting the match away on a block by Remlinger and Clark on Sorensen's attack.
