Sewanee Completes Doubleheader Sweep of Asbury at Home

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SEWANEE, Tenn. – Sewanee volleyball turned in a dominant showing on Saturday, sweeping Asbury in both ends of a doubleheader inside Juhan Gymnasium. The Tigers won the opener 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-22) before rolling again in the afternoon match with another straight-set victory (25-22, 25-12, 25-20). The pair of wins moved Sewanee to 5-4 on the season.

In the morning contest, Sophia Caruso set the tone from the service line, posting a career-high five aces to go with 15 digs. Savannah Gann led the offense with 14 kills and three aces, while Mollie White was nearly unstoppable, hitting .556 with 10 kills and six digs. Suna Merkler added five kills and four block assists, and Anna Ellison tallied four kills and a solo block.

The first set went back and forth with neither side pulling away until Sewanee closed on a decisive 4-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back kills from Gann, along with finishes from Merkler and Ellison.
In the second, the Tigers raced out to a 6-0 lead behind two early kills from Gann. After Asbury trimmed the margin to three at 16-13, Sewanee responded with another 6-0 surge, capped by Caruso's fifth ace of the morning. A late kill from White and a final ace from Gann sealed the frame, 25-15.

Sewanee opened the third with a 6-1 spurt, but Asbury clawed back to tie it at 9-9. A timely kill from White and Gann's third ace restored the Tigers' lead. Ellison's solo block pushed the margin to 16-11, though the Eagles answered with a 4-0 run to close the gap. Merkler's kill off the block and a steady defensive effort from Caruso helped Sewanee hold off the rally, and Maria Kennedy closed out the sweep with the Tigers' 12th ace of the day.

In the second match, the Tigers continued their balanced attack, hitting .210 with 39 kills and 11 aces. Merkler paced the front row with eight kills, three aces, and eight digs. Ellison added six kills on 10 swings (.400) and added four block assists. Sydney Bixby recorded five kills, hitting .357, White added four kills and six digs, while Gann posted six kills and a service ace. Caruso stayed steady on defense with 10 digs and two aces.

The opening frame was tightly contested, featuring two ties and two lead changes. Sewanee's front line came through late, with Ellison and Merkler combining for key kills and blocks to push the Tigers ahead. A steady defensive effort from Caruso helped Sewanee close out the set.

The Tigers dominated from start to finish in the second set, hitting .385 as a team. Merkler delivered three kills and an ace during the set, while Bixby added multiple kills at the net. Strong serving runs from Caruso and Barnes kept Asbury off balance as Sewanee cruised to a double-digit win.

Asbury battled back in the final frame, staying within striking distance behind short scoring runs. Sewanee's balance proved decisive, with White, Gann, and Ellison all contributing kills. A late service run from Merkler and a kill by Jane Gambel sealed the match and the Tigers' second sweep of the day.

Sewanee returns home for a midweek matchup against Wesleyan on Tuesday at 6 p.m. before opening Southern Athletic Association play in Atlanta, Ga., at a conference pod hosted by Oglethorpe. The Tigers will face Southwestern and Millsaps on Saturday and wrap up the weekend against the host Stormy Petrels on Sunday.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Sydney Bixby: S; 6' 0"; Junior

#1 Sophia Caruso: L/DS; 5' 1"; Junior

#8 Anna Ellison: MB; 6' 1"; Junior

#18 Savannah Gann: OH; 5' 11"; Junior

#5 Maria Kennedy: OH; 5' 10"; Junior

#14 Suna Merkler: OH; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#9 Mollie White: OH; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#2 Jane Gambel: OH; 5' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#11 Sydney Bixby
: 6' 0"; Junior
: S

#1 Sophia Caruso
: 5' 1"; Junior
: L/DS

#8 Anna Ellison
: 6' 1"; Junior
: MB

#18 Savannah Gann
: 5' 11"; Junior
: OH

#5 Maria Kennedy
: 5' 10"; Junior
: OH

#14 Suna Merkler
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: OH

#9 Mollie White
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: OH

#2 Jane Gambel
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: OH