GREENVILLE, Ill. - The women's volleyball season ended on Saturday afternoon with a five set loss to MacMurray in the semifinals of the SLIAC tournament. Greenville fell 25-23, 17-25, 30-28, 22-25, 15-13.
The Panthers led 23-22 late in the first set, but MacMurray received a pair of kills sandwiched around an attack error by Anna Finch to collect the last three points and the 25-23 first set.
In the second set, Greenville led nearly the entire way, establishing a 7-6 lead on a kill from Finch and holding it through the conclusion of the set.
The third set allowed MacMurray to regain their confidence when they came back from a 11-6 hole and took a 15-13 lead with nine of 11 points. The Panthers held off two set points at 24-22 with a kill from Jasmin Smith and an ace by Jordan Lempa which made the set 24-all. After an attack error by MacMurray, Greenville had a chance to take the set, but the teams traded the next three points to land at 27-all. After reaching 28-all, MacMurray won the set with two straight kills.
In the fourth set, Greenville found themselves staring at a 7-3 deficit before roaring back and knotting the set at 7-all. The set eventually reached 20-all when Greenville received kills from Finch and Smith, a block by Emily Stahl, and another kill by Smith to go ahead 24-20. Smith later closed the set with a termination and a 25-22 winning set.
The fifth and final set swung two points either way throughout the duration of the set. Greenville's final lead came at 8-6 before the court reversal and a renaissance by MacMurray. The Highlanders collected three points to go ahead 9-8 and never again trailed in taking the final set 15-13.
Smith tied her season-high with 18 kills in the match and converted a double-double with 26 digs.
Anna Finch and Mia Bonacorsi each added 14 kills.
Chasity Hill joined Smith with 20 or more digs, finishing with an even 20.
At the net, both Stahl and Haley Banks provided two solo blocks and a block assist.
Kaitlin Murray and Lempa were the setters. Murray gained 32 set assists followed by Lempa's 28.
Following the championship match later in the evening, the SLIAC announced its 2019 award winners.
Greenville's honoree on the All-Sportmanship team was Maci Bonacorsi, and she also earned a position on the All-Conference second team.
Smith was also a second team choice.
Finch picked up first team honors and was chosen by SLIAC coaches as the player of the year.
Mia Bonacorsi took a slot on the All-Tournament teams.
The Panthers ended their 2019 campaign with a record of 22-9 and their ninth SLIAC regular season title.
