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No. 24 Lady Buffs Lost To No. 25 Rockhurst In NCAA-II Southwest Regional
Nov. 20, 2003
DENVER, Colo. - The West Texas A&M University volleyball team, ranked No. 24 in the AVCA Top 25 Poll, fought gallently, but came up on the short end, losing 3-1 (28-30, 24-30, 30-20, 28-30), to No. 25 Rockhurst in the quarterfinals of the NCAA-II Southwest Regional Tournament Thursday, hosted by Metro State College at Denver, Colo.
The Lady Buffs, who made their 10th-consecutive Regional appearance, end the season with a 29-8 record, after winning the Lone Star Conference Tournament for the fifth-straight year.
Thursday night senior setter Kendra Morgan played her final match in a Lady Buff uniform and went out with a bang, finishing with a match-high 52 assists, 14 digs and seven kills. The LSC Offensive Player of the Year was three kills short of her seventh triple-double of the season. Morgan leaves WTAMU as both the school and the LSC career assists leader, after becoming the 12th player in NCAA-II history with 6,000 career digs.
Fellow senior Kacie Hyatt, also playing in her final match in a Lady Buff uniform, tied a match-high with 22 digs. Hyatt, the LSC Defensive Player of the Year, leaves WTAMU as the single-season digs leader and No. 3 on the career digs list.
Freshman outside hitter Ambra Clark, the LSC Freshman of the Year, had a team-high 18 kills, to lead five Lady Buffs in double-digit kills. Clark was followed by sophomore middle blocker Cynthia Carter and freshman outside hitter Jessica Scherr with 12 kills apiece, while freshman middle blocker Megan Spivey tallied 11 kills and fellow freshman, outside hitter Rachel Altman added 10 kills.
Sophomore defensive specialist Brittani Bell had 20 digs, while Scherr added 12 digs and sophomore defensive specialist Libby Garza added 10 digs.
The Lady Buffs dictated action at the net, as they posted 11 total team blocks. Carter registered a team-high six blocks, while Morgan and Spivey added five apiece.
Rockhurst was led by Regiane Manzato's 25 kills and Jessica Shepler with 21 kills.
The Lady Hawks have won the last two matches against the Lady Buffs, after defeating them earlier this season in four games back on Sept 19 at the Heartland/LSC Crossover.
WTAMU defeated RU in four games in last year's Regional Final at The Box, as the Lady Buffs advanced to the Elite Eight.
The Lady Hawks improve to 30-12 on the year, and advance to Friday's semifinals, where they'll face top-seeded and host, Metro State, ranked No. 7 in the nation. The other semifinal match is second-seed and eighth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney against third-seeded and No. 22 St. Edward's, who swept Fort Hays State Thursday to advance.
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