ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The University of Chicago volleyball team concluded the UAA Conference Championship on a high note, earning a third-place finish with a 3-1 (25-21, 25-17, 20-25, 25-16) victory over Case Western Reserve. The Maroons showcased their best volleyball of the season, setting a program record with 68 kills in the match and displaying grit and cohesion throughout the weekend.
Offensive Powerhouse:
UChicago's offense was firing on all cylinders in the win over Case Western Reserve.
Amelia Gibbs tallied a match-high 20 kills, leading a balanced attack that also saw
Thalita Marangon deliver 16 kills and
Maggie McInerney add 11. The setting duo of
Hillary Cheung (30 assists) and
Grace Xu (24 assists) kept the offense unpredictable and efficient. Reflecting on the match, UChicago head coach highlighted the team's ability to come together, "Against Case Western, we had 68 kills in four sets, which is a school record. Each win was won by the team—the players on our bench worked hard to support and bring up the team during tough times and celebrated when we needed them to. All in all, I'm really proud of our women for finishing UAA conference play on a high note."
Defensive Resilience:
The Maroons' defensive effort was just as impressive.
Kennedy Cheung led the back row with 20 digs, while Marangon( 17 digs) and
Klaudia Barbarossa (8 digs) provided critical support. At the net,
Keeley Kandziora,
Diya Mishra, and Gibbs combined for 11 blocks to stifle Case Western's attack. The team's ability to fight for every point and maintain composure under pressure was a defining factor, as Gibbs reflected: "Because we play in such a competitive conference, we really had to fight for every point, and I think our team showed a lot of grit and resilience all weekend. It was so fun to have a chance to redeem ourselves against [teams like Case Western] after having lost to them earlier in the season."
Teamwide Contributions:
The Maroons' third-place finish in the UAA Conference Championship represents a significant achievement in one of the nation's most competitive volleyball conferences. The energy and support from players on the bench played a key role in the team's success.
"Our bench worked hard to support and bring up the team during tough times and celebrated when we needed them to," the head coach added. "I feel like we're peaking at the right time and playing our best volleyball, which is exciting as we move into the NCAA tournament next week."
Key Stats:
With their third-place finish and record-breaking performance, UChicago looks to gain an at-large bid and head into the NCAA tournament with momentum and confidence, ready to build on the successes of a remarkable UAA Championship weekend.
