Hoosiers In The NCAA Tourney, Part 2
With only 48 teams selected for the spring ’21 (read: delayed fall ’20) women’s indoor tournament, it appeared less likely that the Hoosier State would be represented. In reality, Hoosiers were on the rosters of fifteen teams that qualified this…
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Continue ReadingWith only 48 teams selected for the spring ’21 (read: delayed fall ’20) women’s indoor tournament, it appeared less likely that the Hoosier State would be represented. In reality, Hoosiers were on the rosters of fifteen teams that qualified this spring in the bubble known as Omaha. We touched on the five teams that made the Elite Eight from Indiana. Let’s take a closer look at those kids from teams that may not have seen the same success, but were part of a winning tradition nonetheless.
Bowling Green State
The MAC champs finished their season at 22-2, and look to reload for this coming fall. Senior Kerstie Shaw (’17, 5-7 DS, Circle City, Northview HS) played the majority of her career as a three-rotation DS that saw some of her best play in times when they needed her most. In their season-ending loss to Weber State, she had 8 digs, 2 assists and 1 ace.
Missouri
It’s hard for me to put an SEC team in this list of teams, but with an opening round sweep of South Dakota, they ran into a buzzsaw of Buckeyes, and were swept out in round 2. The lone freshman on the Tigers’ roster, Emily Brown (’20, 5-6 L, Circle City, McCutcheon HS) was an immediate starter with the special jersey, culminating in a match-high 12 digs in their season-ending loss to Ohio State. The libero position is hers for the foreseeable future, and is in good coaching hands to stay there.
Lipscomb
Finishing the season 17-3, the Bison should have no regrets whatsoever after their hard-fought four-set loss to Georgia Tech in the first round. Used as a combination of a serving specialist, a 5-1 setter, a 6-2 setter and a three-rotation DS, Brooke Phillips (’19, 5-9 S, Circle City, Franklin Community HS) recorded a double-double against Bellarmine in February. With three setters on the roster for the fall, this position battle might make or break Lipscomb volleyball for the foreseeable future.
Towson
In a truncated schedule, CAA champion Towson finished 6-1, with their lone loss coming to A-10 champ Dayton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Towson’s second consecutive conference title, albeit in a shortened season, is a great program-builder with a bright future. Even though she only played in five matches for the Tigers, Asia Goins (’19, 5-0 DS, Munciana, Avon HS) still finished third in total digs, averaging 3.5 per set when on the floor. With exactly zero seniors on the roster, Towson will look to continue that winning tradition in the fall.
Texas A&M-Corpus Cristi
As the four seed going into the Southland Conference Tournament, little was known then about the Islander’s magical season. TAMCC ran into a machine in a three-set loss to San Diego, but the magic lives on. With a five-set win over Sam Houston State, Kylie Filipiak (’18, 5-9 RS, Michigan City HS) got to see postseason action for the first time in her brief career. With two pin attackers graduating this month, here’s to hoping she sees a bit more in her future.