BLOOMINGTON, IL – Viking volleyball went toe-to-toe with undefeated top ranked East Texas Baptist in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, where they shocked the Tigers with a 3-1 victory to advance to the Final Four for the first time in school history!
Berry was paced by 15 kills from All-American Madie Whitehead, 12 from senior leader Lura Underwood, and 10 from freshman phenom Cali Armstead, who proved to be the boost that the Vikings needed in the middle of their offense. The back line play of libero Andrea Hurt was other worldly, as the junior stabbed 23 digs that stifled the Tiger attack. AVCA Freshman of the Year and All-American Ava Brovet was dominant as usual with 45 assists.
The Vikings got going early with a Lura Underwood kill and two kills from Madie Whitehead to go along with a monster block from Blakely Barnes upon her insertion into the game, to take a 5-3 lead in the first set over undefeated ETBU. The Tigers went on a 5-1 run, though to take an 8-6 lead. Junior Keira Kruk came up big with a kill to stop the bleeding though, and great defensive recognition led to another point for the Vikings. Ailee England came into the game and made an instant impact with an ace to regain a 9-8 lead. A few exchanges later, Whitehead received room service from Ava Brovet as she crushed a kill to make the score 11-9 with Berry on top.
With a 14-12 lead, Underwood hunted down a kill to take the game into its first media timeout with Berry ahead 15-12. Coming out of the timeout, Andrea Hurt continued to be a factor on the backline, as she saved a ball up to a Keira Kruk who terminated a ball to make the score 16-13. The offensive pressure continued to reign true, as Cali Armstead touched the sky for her second kill of the game to take a 19-16 lead in the first frame. With a 21-18 lead late in the set, the Vikings searched for a way to put the first set to bed.
A terrific set from Brovet set up a one-on-one opportunity for Underwood, who obliterated a kill to make the score 22-18. Off a Whitehead kill and an error from ETBU, the Vikings sat with set point 24-18. A diving dig from Hurt and a textbook set created a huge kill from Whitehead to give Berry a crucial set one win.
The second set began with a kill from ETBU and a tip drill from Whitehead, as she picked up her seventh kill of the match. A few plays later, a brilliant challenge from head coach Caitlyn Moriarty led to an overturned call and a point for the Vikings, which tied the second set at 3. A few plays later, Armstead overcame three blockers to give Berry their first lead of the set, 5-4. Following an unsuccessful challenge from ETBU, which exhausted their last challenge of the contest, Lura Underwood sent through a beautiful kill to give them a 9-8 advantage.
The two powerhouses traded blows as the second set progressed, with neither gaining a true advantage. The Tigers nursed a one-point advantage until an extended rally fueled by outstanding digs from the Vikings was closed out by a resounding kill from Whitehead to even things out once again. A big run from ETBU led to them taking a 21-18 lead, but Armstead had other plans as she elevated for another kill to bring Berry back within 2.
A few moments later, the two teams traded service errors as the Tigers maintained a 23-22 lead before the Tigers blasted through two kills to earn a set two win, 25-22.
Cali Armstead caught fire again in the third set, pacing Berry to a 4-3 lead to begin the third frame. Just moments later, Armstead and Whitehead denied a Tiger attack with a huge double block to push their team ahead by two. Berry continued to show spurt ability as Underwood picked up an ace to make the score 6-3. The Vikings then raced out to three straight points, capped off by another Underwood ace to make the score 9-3, sparking a Tiger timeout. Berry then rowed their way to a huge 16-8 lead behind a skip set from Brovet. Riding electric energy from their crowd, Berry continued to roll, as they dominated the remainder of the set to take a 2-1 lead.
Just one set away from a Final Four, Madie Whitehead began things with a nice back line kill to give Berry a 1-0 lead. A huge block from Kruk off the head of a Tiger gave the Vikings an early 3-1 lead. Both teams traded jabs until Armstead stuffed ETBU's All-American with a huge block to give Berry a 10-8 lead. A Whitehead kill and yet another Armstead block led to the Vikings enjoying a 13-9 lead.
The momentum proved to stay on the Vikings side, as they nursed a 16-10 lead, but there was no quit in the Tigers as they earned a well-deserved point to cut the lead to five. Eager to respond, Whitehead and Kruk traded turns on their respective sides, as they generated kills to make the score 21-14. With just four points between the Vikings and the Final Four, the Vikings sustained a short run from ETBU, before delivering two knock out blows, courtesy of the swings of Blakely Barnes and Lura Underwood, as the Viking crowd erupted with cheers that echoed through the arena.
Berry now advances to the Final Four, as they take on the winner of La Verne and UW-Eau Claire tomorrow in the Final Four with a chance to advance to the National Championship in the balance.
