The Gustavus Volleyball team has taken full advantage of an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament by advancing through the regional rounds and reaching the Elite 8.

After losing two out of their last four regular season games and an unexpected loss in the quarterfinals of the MIAC playoffs, it looked as though the Gusties’ season might have met its end. Fortunately, the Gusties strong results throughout the season (26-6 record, and a national ranking that peaked at No. 11) were enough to secure a No. 2 seed in the NCAA regional tournament.

Last Thursday, the Gusties traveled to Northwestern–St. Paul to take on Aurora College in the region quarterfinals.  Despite losing the first set 23-25, the Gusties recovered in the second, and dominated the rest of the match. The final score was 3:1 Gustavus (23-25, 25-15, 27-25, 25-15), as the Gusties were led by 20 kills from First Year Kate Holtan, 17 kills from Junior Hanna Albers, 46 assist and 11 digs from Junior Nora Holtan, and 26 digs from Junior Brittany Luethmers.

After besting Aurora College, the Gusties moved on to play Wartburg College. Gustavus had taken the previous three meetings between the two teams, including a 3-1 decision earlier this year, and a 3-0 decision in the first round of the NCAA regional tournament last year. The Gusties opened the game by capitalizing on a series of runs to take the opening set 25-21. After losing momentum in the second, and dropping the set 12-25, the Gusties came back strong and won the final two sets decidedly 25-16, 25-15.

The Gusties were led once again by a group of familiar faces. Albers led the attack with 20 kills, while adding 18 digs. The younger Holtan added 17 kills of her own with a .267 attack rate. Her older sister played a pivotal role in all aspects by recording 51 assists, eight digs, three kills, and two aces.  Luethmers led the back line 33 digs. “I thought overall the match was a lot of tenacity on defense, both teams were aggressive going back and forth the whole match. I was really proud of our girls, especially after the second set,” Head Coach Rachelle Sherden commented in a press conference after the game.

After No.1 seed Northwestern–St. Paul cruised to a 25-11 victory in the first set, it looked as though the Gusties’ run was at its end.  However, the Gustavus women showed great resilience as they took the first five points of the second set. They maintained this lead to the end, and closed out the second set 25-16 to even the match at one set all. The third set was a battle with 12 ties and 6 lead changes in the early going, at which point the Gusties went on a 7-1 run and closed out the set 25-18. With a trip to the Elite 8 just one set away, the Gusties rallied off five straight points from 20-22 down to punch their ticket to Grand Rapids, MI.

Kate Holtan led the attack with 20 kills on a .333 attack percentage, and was aided by Albers who added 16 kills and 13 digs of her own. Nora Holtan led the team once again with 46 assists and 10 digs.  On the back line, Luethmers and Senior Abby Leitch recorded 18 digs each.

For their efforts, Kate Holtan and Hanna Albers were named to the All-Tournament team, and Nora Holtan was named the Central Region Most Outstanding Player.  To add to the excitement of the team success, Nora Holtan was rewarded with her second consecutive American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American First Team, while her younger sister was named an Honorable Mention.

This win represents Gustavus’ first Region Championship in the program’s illustrious 49-year history and the first appearance in the Elite 8 since 1984.