Final Stats (.pdf Format)

CANYON, Texas – Junior Debbie Ohl slammed 14 kills and freshman Kaelen Valdez knocked down 13 to lead the Angelo State Rambelle volleyball team over No. 22 Abilene Christian, 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 28-26) in the Lone Star Conference Volleyball Tournament Semifinal match. With the victory the 'Belles advance to the LSC Championship game for the first time since 1993.

The 'Belles' (19-11) victory over LSC foe ACU (26-5) is their first since 2008 and their first sweep over the Wildcats since 1998. The last time the Rambelles played in the LSC Championship match, Angelo State dropped a 3-0 contest to Eastern New Mexico.

On top of 14 kills, Ohl also contributed three digs, a block and hit a robust .458 in the contest. Valdez tallied 13 kills, nine digs, one block assist and hit .333. Sophomore Chelsea Gibson and junior Kayla Smith each registered eight kills, while sophomore libero Caroline Cleveland recorded a match-best 16 digs. Smith added nine digs, while Gibson had two block assists and sophomore setter Alex Woolsey collected 44 assists and four digs. Freshman Maddie Huth slugged a match-high .545 hitting percentage.

Despite an early kill by Abilene Christian, the Angelo State Rambelles controlled the first set with a balanced offense that hit .270 and knocked down 13 kills. The 'Belles went on a 5-0 run and never looked back as they surged ahead to take a seven-point lead on a kill by Ohl. The 'Belles held the Wildcats to just .132 hitting and claimed a 25-18 victory.

Angelo State never trailed in the second set as the 'Belles began the set on a 5-0 run. The Wildcats rallied and knotted the set at nine all, but the 'Belles knocked down two more points taking advantage of a Wildcat attack error. With a two-point lead (13-11), Woolsey knocked down her only kill of the match to get the momentum going for Angelo State. After the Woolsey kill, ASU surged ahead to take a 20-14 advantage. The 'Belles took their largest lead of the set on a kill by Huth (23-15). Valdez put the set away and gave the 'Belles a 2-0 set lead when she slammed a kill to end the set, 25-17.

After having not lost to Angelo State in two years, the Wildcats came out swinging in the third set and took an 8-4 lead. ACU capitalized on a few Rambelle miscues to push its lead to five (11-6). The determined 'Belles refused to quit and continued to chip away at the Wildcats' lead, but they could not come any closer than three points for most of the set. Finally, with the sweep on the line, Valdez stepped up for the 'Belles and cut their lead to one (19-18). As Abilene Christian put down another point, it was up to Ohl to bring the Rambelles back within one (20-19). With adrenaline pumping, Huth jumped up and spiked down her sixth kill of the match to tie the set at 20. With the score knotted at 20 apiece, the two squads matched each other point-for-point and pushed the game to set point three times before Huth slammed her final kill of the match to give Angelo State a 28-26 victory and send the 'Bells into the LSC Championship match.

Abilene Christian was led by Jennie Hutt's 13 kills, four digs and .357 hitting percentage. Setter Ijeoma Moronu tallied 33 assists in the contest, while Jordan Schilling collected 11 digs and Kelsie Edwards added 10.

The 'Belles will return to The Fieldhouse on the West Texas A&M campus Saturday, Nov. 13, to fight for the LSC title with the winner of the West Texas A&M/Tarleton State match. The match is set for 7 p.m. Live stats and live video are available by clicking links on AngeloSports.com or by accessing LoneStarConferece.org.

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