Eagles Take Third AAC Postseason Title In-a-Row

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Reinhardt women's volleyball is bringing home its third-consecutive Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) postseason banner after charging past the Buffaloes of Milligan (Tenn.) in the AAC Championship Final, 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-18), Thursday evening inside the MeadowView Marriott Convention Center & Conference Resort.

The Eagles (20-5) and Buffaloes have squared off in each AAC Championship Final the last three seasons, and today's matchup was the first time that Milligan earned a set against Reinhardt – who earlier Thursday also took care of Truett McConnell (Ga.) in four stanzas to earn a spot in the league's postseason finale, 25-20, 21-25, 25-21, 25-15.

"This is a championship that will be at the top list for a long, long time," head coach Brian Goodhind said. "We came into this tournament missing a lot due to injuries, and each round was a battle to come up with adjustments that would just let us compete. We had a bunch of players that had to have that "next person up" mentality that stepped up huge for us. I could not be prouder of these girls and their togetherness through this tournament. They played for one another and completely trusted the process.

"I want to give all the honor and glory to God. He makes the impossible, possible."

Reinhardt vs. Truett McConnell, W (3-1)

• Both teams combined for 52 kills in the semifinal round and each club took a game to send the match to the third set tied, 1-1.
• Abbey Tucker (13 kills) and Shelby Glawson (12 kills with a .346) shined on Thursday as the duo was the go-to combination when the Eagles needed to score.
• Joining them in double digits on offense against the Bears was Kaitlyn Rieke with 10 scores and a .364 hitting percentage.
• The hometown team would rebound in sets three and four with strong performances in final scores of 25-21 and 25-15, respectively.
• Reinhardt would hit .262 as a club and strike with eight aces. Additionally, Truett McConnell would gift the Eagles with 29 miscues in defeat.
• Individually, Erinn Marroquin (29 assists) and Karya Suvarioglu (18 dimes) were prominent in getting teammates in the right spot to score.
• Holly Heath led the squad in digs with 18 of her team's 57.
• Abby Infante (seven kills) was all over the net on defense as well, totaling seven assisted blocks and three solo rejections. Reinhardt registered 14 assisted blocks and four solos in the triumph.

Reinhardt vs. Milligan, W (3-1)

• The grind of another championship run hit full swing as the Eagles lined up again less than two hours after beating the Bears to clash with the Buffaloes for all the postseason marbles.
• Both programs came out swinging in the first set, but it was Milligan who just had enough offense – and a .481 hitting percentage – to earn a 1-0 advantage heading into game two.
• The offense would slow down considerably on both sidelines, but the roles were reversed in the outcome, as it was Reinhardt's turn to come through in the clutch with a victory, 25-20.
• The Eagles would seize their opportunity for another AAC banner and never look back as they exploded on the Buffaloes in stanza three to the tune of 17 kills (only four errors) and a .406.
• The 10-point defeat in the third game seemed to take the air out of Milligan, as Reinhardt appeared to get stronger and stronger as the evening went along.
• Set four came and went with the Eagles earning another 16 kills (.361) and surrendering only three errors in the match-winning frame.
• The offense (.297 hitting percentage) once again went through the duo of Abbey Tucker (18 kills) and Shelby Glawson (18 kills and a .366), who each had 43 and 41 attempts, respectively.
• Not to be outdone, Kaitlyn Rieke (.409) again hit the 10-plus-point plateau in the victory as well.
• Holly Heath – the AAC Championship MVP – made plays all over the floor with 26 more digs. Joining her on the All-Tournament Team were Glawson and Allyson Mattson.
• Erinn Marroquin (38 assists) and Karya Suvarioglu (13 dimes) are getting in a groove together from the setter position.

The team will come back and get some practice time in as it prepares for the 2020 NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship Opening Round.

The Selection Show is set to take place on Monday, April 12 at 11 a.m. 

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For more information on Reinhardt Women's Volleyball, please click here.