Wartburg Claims Volleyball Tournament Title in Five Set Thriller to Take A-R-C AQ Bid to Division III Tournament

11/6/2021 6:50:14 PM

WAVERLY, Iowa — The 2021 American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Volleyball Tournament saw the No. 1-seed and nationally ranked No. 4 Wartburg (27-0, 8-0 A-R-C) take down No. 2-seed Coe (24-8, 7-1 A-R-C) in a five-set battle from Levick Arena on the campus of Wartburg College. 
 
This year's Wartburg Knights were looking to be tournament champions for the first time since 2017, and that they did. The Knights took both the regular season and conference tournament titles this year. This marks the program's ninth conference tournament title in program history (2002-03-10-12-13-15-16-17-21). Tonight's title also earns Wartburg the league's automatic qualifier to the 2021 NCAA Division III Volleyball Tournament. This win marks the 12th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history (1997-98-2001-02-03-10-12-13-15-16-17-21).
 
Wartburg outhit the Kohaws throughout the five sets, .153 to .115. The Knights put together and impressive defensive battle recording 18 blocks on the night.
 
It was All-Conference honoree Zaiah Quirk leading the offense with 17 kills. The senior outside hitter recorded a double-double collecting 14 digs on the night. Senior right side hitter and honorable mention Jayme Willemssean showed her dominance on the net by collecting 14 kills and hitting .353. Senior setter and All-Conference honoree, Claire Marsh collected 47 assists to guide the Knights offense. League MVP, Kylie Bildstien, was a force at the net collecting eight blocks to help led the Knights to the tournament crown. Katie Foster, league Defensive Player of the Year, recorded 25 digs during the five-set showdown against the Kohawks.
 
With 14 kills, Gracie Urbatsch paced the Kohawk offense. Grace Lueken recorded 13 kills and the pair gathered five blocks. Elli Teeple recorded 51 assists. Libero Majda Suljic tallied 37 digs and four aces.

Regional play of the NCAA Division III Tournament takes place 11/12/2021 - 11/14/2021 at eight, to be determined, campus sites. The tournament finals will take place on 11/18/2021 - 11/20/2021 at the Francis Fieldhouse (St. Louis, Missouri), hosted by the University Athletic Association.
 
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