MARIETTA, Ohio – The University of Chicago volleyball team delivered a commanding performance, defeating Centre College in four sets (25-21, 16-25, 25-16, 25-15) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday afternoon at Ban Johnson Arena in Marietta, OH.
Strong offensive contributions propelled UChicago to a .243 hitting percentage, with three players reaching double-digit kills. Amelia Gibbs posted an outstanding .500 hitting percentage with 13 kills and three blocks, while Diya Mishra added 13 kills, an impressive .370 hitting percentage, three aces, and three blocks, making a significant impact at the net and service line. Maggie McInerney rounded out the offensive leaders with 10 kills and four aces.
UChicago claimed the opening set, 25-21, showcasing a balanced offensive approach and strong defensive pressure. Centre's Hollye Tate delivered multiple kills off Emily Gardner's assists to keep the Colonels competitive. The Maroons, trailing early in the set, stormed back with clutch plays. Late kills from Peyton Minyard and McInerney sealed the set for UChicago.
Centre responded with a dominant second set, winning 25-16. Mack Turner led the charge with multiple kills, while Ally Knueven added key points at the net. Centre capitalized on UChicago's unforced errors, including attack miscues, to widen their lead. The Maroons couldn't overcome Centre's precision, evening the match at 1-1.
The third set saw UChicago regain control with a 25-16 victory, fueled by strong offensive execution and Centre's unforced errors. The Maroons exploited multiple attack errors, while McInerney and Grace Xu kept UChicago's attack steady. Centre fought, but UChicago's efficiency and momentum carried them to a commanding set win.
Junior middle blocker Diya Mishra highlighted the team's resilience. "That second set is obviously not ideal in an NCAA Tournament," Mishra said. "But we came back in the third like we were never down. I had a great match, but looking at the stats, we're an incredibly well-rounded team. We're peaking at the right time and able to set anyone the ball and kill it. This was especially dominant in the third and fourth sets." Senior Maggie McInerney added a double-double, collecting 15 digs alongside her 10 kills for the match.
Mishra also praised the team's unity. "Every single person is involved in both our offense and defense," she said. The Maroons demonstrated defensive grit, out-digging Centre 72-68. Thalita Marangon anchored the back row with 22 digs, while Hillary Cheung added 10 digs and 19 assists. Xu orchestrated the offense with 21 assists.
The victory improves UChicago's record to 25-10 and advances them to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. They will face #5 UW-Oshkosh on Friday, November 22, at 4:30 p.m. EST. Centre concludes their season at 22-7.
Head Coach Mitchell McPartland emphasized the team's focus. "We're really taking this one team at a time. Our focus today was on Centre. But in the back of our heads, we knew Oshkosh was next. The big message has been to stay present and fight for every point. We're excited to play and know we're the underdogs. We've played Oshkosh before and know how good they are. At this point, we're just looking to play our best. We'll be hungry tomorrow."
For the full postgame press conference click here.
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