AU failed to overcome a slow start against the Dayton Flyers, the A-10 conference champions, and ultimately fell in four sets 25-22, 25-18, 23-25, 29-27.
Despite playing in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year, AU proved unable to conjure the same magical run that took them to the regional semifinals of the tournament in 2013.
Junior outside hitter Allison Cappellino led AU with 15 kills and 21 digs, and senior setter Monica Smidova contributed 10 kills, 36 assist, and 19 digs. Junior outside hitter Sarah Katz recorded 12 kills and 10 digs. However, their efforts were not enough to carry the Eagles (26-7, 15-1 PL) past the Flyers (30-5, 13-1 A-10) and A-10 player of the year junior outside hitter Alaina Turner, who recorded a match-high 30 kills.
AU raced out to an early lead in the first set, but Dayton rallied to tie the set at 5-5, and neither team managed to separate themselves beyond several points. They traded leads several times before the pivotal point came with the set tied at 18. A kill from Flyers freshman middle blocker Amber Erhahon and two attacking errors against AU gave the Flyers a 21-18 lead, and ultimately helped them close the set, 25-22.
The second set began much like the first, with the Eagles jumping out to an early lead only to be pegged back by Dayton in the final points. AU maintained the advantage in the beginning and stretched their lead to 14-11 on a service ace from Cappellino. A run of three straight kills by Turner, however, brought the Flyers back into the set, and the Eagles were unable to regain their initial momentum, scoring only four points for the remainder of the set.
Despite trailing two sets to none, the Eagles continued to fight and jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the third set behind Smidova’s strong service game and a two kills by Katz. AU struggled to maintain control, however, and the Flyers briefly seized the lead, creating a chance for a 3-0 win. The Eagles fought back to tie the set at 18 all behind timely kills from senior outside hitter Kristyna Lindovska and senior middle blocker Kelly McCaddin. Smidova’s service game helped give the Eagles separation and a 21-18 lead in the set, and kills from Lindovska and Katz helped close out the set for the Eagles.
"I'm proud of our team, to battle our way back after game two," l head coach Barry Goldberg said. "Our offense started to come alive in games three and four, and it was a good battle back and forth. I'm proud of our team's effort in giving everything they had to be successful.”
As it had done in each of the previous sets, AU seized command of the fourth set early, but again were unable to permanently separate from the Flyers. After the Flyers tied the score at 4-4, the set was back and forth, with neither team leading by more than three points. Dayton seized control when they took a 19-16 lead and several attacking errors from the Eagles suggested they were rattled.
However, after a timeout, AU slowed Dayton’s momentum and eventually tied the set at 20. The score remained close, but a series of Dayton kills after a 27-27 score finally sunk the resilient Eagles.
Despite the loss, the Eagles finished 2014 with a strong season record and several conference honors. AU captured its twelfth regular season and tournament Patriot League title, and eclipsed 20 wins for the ninth time in 10 years to return to the NCAA Tournament.
The Eagles will lose 5 seniors from the 2014 squad, including Smidova, the Patriot League setter and player of the year, McCaddin, and Lindovska, first and second team Patriot League selections respectively.
"We have to evaluate this team for what they accomplished,” Goldberg said. “At the end of this year, we're happy—not with the end result of not winning this match today, but with the end result of us being a battling team."
