FORT MYERS, FL. - No. 2 seed Lipscomb Volleyball took on No. 1 seed and host FGCU Saturday night for the ASUN Championship crown and an automatic bid into the NCAA Championship. The Bisons fell short to the Eagles 3-0, ending their tournament run, putting an end to the 2023 season.
Lipscomb was led by their all-conference superlative winners and ASUN tournament team duo, Meg Mersman and Sophia Hudepohl. Mersman logged seven kills in the effort, while Hudepohl logged 25 assists against the Eagles in the ASUN Championship.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
FGCU worked to an early lead, with a six-point scoring run, for an 11-5 score to start the match. After a timeout from the Bisons to regroup, the Eagles continued to control the frame, as the Bisons couldn't get anything going, falling in the opening frame 25-11.
Lipscomb had a better start to the second frame, only trailing by a point (5-4), but the Eagles logged five of the next six to take a 10-5 lead, forcing another Bisons timeout in the second. Despite the deficit, the bunch kept themselves within striking distance midway through the set. Lipscomb climbed within three on a service error by FGCU (15-12), but the Eagles responded with another run, this time three straight.
The Eagles eventually worked themselves into set point position and would win the frame 25-20. The Bisons show some fight late, scoring three consecutive points for a 24-20 score, forcing FGCU to talk things over. Unfortunately, after the break and a service ace, an error cut the Bisons comeback effort short in the second.
FGCU took another early lead in set three, logging the frame's first six points. Lipscomb kept fighting with their season on the line down the stretch but the lead was too much to overcome. Cora ter Kuile went on a three-point stretch of her own with a kill and two aces to keep the Bisons within reach (18-14). However, FGCU closed the match out on their home floor, taking the third and final set 25-20.
The Bisons fell 3-0 in the ASUN Championship Final to end its season with a 21-8 record, their first 20-win season since 2016-17 and 10th under head coach Brandon Rosenthal.
