8th-ranked Carthage College ended the 2009 volleyball season for Nebraska Wesleyan University as they defeated the Prairie Wolves, 3-0, in the NCAA III Central Region Semifinals on Friday (Nov. 13) in St. Louis, Mo. The Lady Reds won with scores of 25-13, 28-26, 25-19.
Nebraska Wesleyan ranked No. 21 in the AVCA III Poll finishes the 2009 season with an 18-12 overall record. The 2009 season marked the sixth straight season that NWU qualified for the NCAA III Tournament and the second straight season that the Prairie Wolves advanced to the second round.
The second-seeded Carthage team took a 5-4 lead in the first set and scored nine unanswered points to build a nine point lead that was too big for NWU to overcome. The set ended at 25-13.
Set two was very hard fought and NWU actually had a set point at 26-25. The Lady Reds responded with two straight kills and an NWU error closed the match. The Prairie Wolves hit much better in the second set with 13 kills and a .130 hitting percentage after a negative .023 in the first set.
NWU jumped ahead early in set three again, but after Carthage took the lead at 10-9, the Prairie Wolves would never lead again. Nebraska Wesleyan got within two at 21-19, but three straight errors would give the set to Carthage.
Elise Schmid led the team with eight kills and four total blocks. Kelsey Elman and Brittny Barber had six kills apiece. Ashley Jedlicka handed out 24 assists and Erika Goldsmith led the team with 25 digs.
Jedlicka was named to the NCAA Central Regional All-Tournament Team.
