Adams Powers No. 25 Taylor Past SAU in CL Quarterfinals

Volleyball | Sat, Nov. 6, 2021
| by Seth Mikel

Video Highlights | Crossroads League Championships Central

UPLAND, Ind. – Taylor opened its postseason in style on Saturday, topping the sixth-seeded Spring Arbor Cougars (14-18) by a 25-21, 25-23, 25-23 margin to improve to 27-6 overall and advance into the Crossroads League Tournament Semifinals.

The action was close throughout, with no team leading by more than four points at any points during the entire match. TU pulled away late in each of the three sets to secure the sweep, improving to 13-1 inside Odle Arena with its 10th-straight win on the home court.

The opener was played within a three-point spread until the final point gave Taylor a 25-21 victory. TU erased an early 3-0 deficit and closed the game on a 6-2 stretch to strike first. Amanda Adams set the tone for the Purple and Gold with six kills in 14 swings and the Trojans hit .324 in the game.

Adams picked up six more kills in the second set and Taylor again overcame deficits of 11-7 and 21-18 to take a 25-23 win. TU scored seven of the final nine points to complete the comeback and put the game away with back-to-back terminations from Jaylynn Dunsmore and Adams.

It was more of the same in the finale, with both teams trading points until SAU opened a 20-16 lead late. Taylor one again dug in and rallied back, getting kills from Adams, Ryan Czerniak and Adams again to draw even at 20-20, and using kills from Adams and Grace Isaacs to take a 24-23 edge. An error from Spring Arbor capped the 9-3 rush from Taylor to finish the sweep with a 25-23 victory.

It was all Adams in the contest, as the senior outside hitter dominated with 18 kills in 42 swings. The All-American had just three errors, posted a .357 percentage and added six digs.

Dunsmore provided several key swings and finished the match with six kills and a .364 percentage, while Kacy Bragg posted 35 assists, nine digs, five kills and one block. Isaacs also came up large with four blocks and Stephaney Fifield ended with 14 digs.

No. 25 and third-seeded Taylor (27-6) will now turn its focus toward a CL Tournament Semifinal clash at No. 21 and second-seeded Indiana Wesleyan (21-4). That match is slated for Wednesday, November 10 at IWU, with a start time of 7:00 pm.