SEWANEE, Tenn. – Despite a valiant effort led by standout performances from
Savannah Gann and
Sophia Caruso, the Sewanee Tigers fell in a heartbreaking fifth set, 22-20, in the quarterfinals of the SAA Tournament.
Gann spearheaded the offense with 21 kills and achieved a career-high 17 digs. Caruso was stellar defensively, posting a career-high 32 digs. Mollie White contributed 11 kills, while Anna Ellison had a career night at the net with a personal-best 10 kills, four solo blocks, and three block assists. White also added three block assists.
Maria Kennedy recorded 17 digs and eight kills, while Emma Meyer filled the stat sheet with 44 assists, four aces, and seven digs.
The Tigers opened the match strong, hitting .250 and using a 14-5 run to claim the first set, 25-21.
Sewanee continued its momentum into the second set, jumping out to a 5-2 lead. Berry countered to take a 12-10 advantage, but the Tigers rallied with key plays, including a service error and two kills. Both teams traded points in a tightly contested frame until Gann's clutch kills and a Berry attacking error secured a thrilling 26-24 set win, giving Sewanee a 2-0 lead.
The Vikings roared back in the third set, taking a commanding 12-4 lead. Berry hit .387 in the frame with 15 kills and three errors, while the Tigers managed seven kills against four errors, allowing the Vikings to stay alive with a 25-15 win.
The fourth set was a nail-biter as both teams exchanged leads. Sewanee briefly held a four-point advantage, but Berry responded with a five-point run to reclaim the lead. With the score tied at 23, a kill by Berry's Bella Boston and a Sewanee attacking error handed the Vikings a 25-23 set win, forcing a deciding fifth set.
In the final set, Sewanee built a 6-3 lead, capped by a Kennedy kill, but Berry clawed back with a four-point run to tie the set at 10. From there, neither team led by more than two points. Both sides saved a combined eight match points in a thrilling battle, but Berry ultimately prevailed, closing the set with a kill by Kate Whittle to secure a spot in the semifinals.
