SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Centre volleyball advanced to its second Southern Athletic Association title game in the last three years as the Colonels knocked off a pesky squad of Southwestern Warriors in four sets in the semifinal round.
 
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
 
- The opening set was close the entire way as the defenses for both teams controlled the action. The lead changed hands back and forth until the Pirates scored the last three points of the frame to win 25-22.
- Southwestern kept the momentum going into the second set, taking a quick 13-7 lead. The Colonels regained the advantage with a 9-1 run of their own and the seesaw matchup continued. Trailing 20-18, the Colonels caught fire at the right time, outscoring Southwestern 7-1 the rest of the way to win 25-21 as Campbell Miles delivered consecutive aces to seal the victory.
- In the third set, Southwestern held a small lead in the early stages before aces from Miles and Kendra Christopher keyed a 7-1 run for the Colonels to put Centre back on top. With the score tied at 20, the Centre defense took over. Christopher blocked a Pirates attempt to force set point and then Mack Turner and Mia Casi teamed up for the winning block in a 25-21 win.
- The Colonels again got off to a slow start in set 4, falling behind 9-4 as Southwestern looked to extend the match. The offense then exploded for 13 of the next 14 points to take a commanding lead. Centre's lead grew to as many as ten points at 23-13, but the Pirates refused to die, scoring the next six. An errant serve made it match point for Centre and Christopher came through with the clinching kill as Centre win once again by a score of 25-21.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 
- Syd Bietz recorded a double-double with a game high 20 kills to go along with 14 digs.
- Elise Grundy hit a new career high with 12 blocks.
- Miles led the Colonels with 15 digs and also had four of Centre's 12 aces.
 
NEXT UP
 
The Colonels will play the winner of no. 2 seed Berry vs. no. 3 seed Trinity in Saturday's championship game.