FORT MYERS, Fla. – In a full day of quarterfinal action on Thursday in the 2024 Atlantic Sun Conference Volleyball Championship, all four matches saw the higher seeds advance with #1 FGCU, #2 Lipscomb, #3 Central Arkansas and #4 EKU moving on.
#3 Central Arkansas 3, #6 North Florida 2
Central Arkansas heads to the ASUN Championship Semifinals for the first time in program history after defeating North Florida in a five-set tournament opener. The Ospreys battled back after dropping the first set to win the second frame by a 25-18 score. The third-seeded Sugar Bears claimed the third set but UNF pushed things to a fifth after a 27-25 fourth-set victory. UCA won the fifth, 15-12, to keep its historic season alive. Four individuals reached double-digit kills for Central Arkansas, led by 15 from ASUN All-Freshman Team selection Regan Harp. She added 23 digs for a double-double performance.
#2 Lipscomb 3, #7 North Alabama 0
Lipscomb only needed three sets to get past North Alabama and advance to the semifinal round for the third season in a row. The Bisons defeated the Lions by scores of 25-16, 25-21 and 25-20. First Team All-ASUN selection Courtney Jones led Lipscomb in kills with 18 on .382 hitting. Fellow First Team member Meg Mersman hit .467 in the match for the Bisons while recording nine kills and a total of six blocks. Karlie McNabb notched an 11-dig, 10-kill double-double for Lipscomb while Jasmine Brooks, who was selected to the All-ASUN Second Team, paced UNA with 18 kills.
#4 EKU 3, #5 Jacksonville 1
The first postseason matchup between EKU and Jacksonville saw the Colonels earn the victory and advance in the tournament for the first time since joining the league. In Thursday's quarterfinal contest, both Carson Ledford (12) and Kambree Lucas (10) registered double-digit kill numbers. Emilee Hill led EKU with 19 digs while ASUN Defensive Player of the Year Josie Schmitendorf added 16. The Colonels outhit the Dolphins .238 to .133 and tallied seven service aces en route to a win. Second Team All-ASUN selection Breanna McDonough led JAX with 13 kills in the team's first tournament appearance since the 2021 Spring postseason.
#1 FGCU 3, #8 Queens 0
The top-seeded FGCU Eagles earned the program's fifth consecutive sweep in an ASUN Championship Quarterfinal contest. The ASUN Regular Season Champion swept Queens with set scores of 25-8, 25-10, and 25-12. This was the 14th sweep of the season for the Eagles. ASUN Player of the Year Shelby Kent led the match with 14 kills and had a .778 hitting percentage. As a team, the Eagles outhit the Royals .532 to .078 and tallied eight service aces. FGCU is now set to compete in the tournament semifinals for the 14th season in a row.
The 2024 ASUN Championship continues on Friday, Nov. 22, inside Alico Arena in Fort Myers, Fla. This is the seventh time FGCU has hosted the event. Semifinal action gets started at 5 PM ET when the Bisons battle the Sugar Bears. At 8 PM ET, the host Eagles face off against the fourth-seeded Colonels. The ASUN Championship Final takes place on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 7 PM ET. All of the tournament matchups are streamed live on ESPN+.
Follow @ASUNSports for updates during the postseason.
2024 ASUN Volleyball Championship
Thursday, Nov. 21 - Quarterfinals
#3 Central Arkansas 3, #6 North Florida 2
#2 Lipscomb 3, #7 North Alabama 0
#4 EKU 3, #5 Jacksonville 1
#1 FGCU 3, #8 Queens 0
Friday, Nov. 22 - Semifinals
#2 Lipscomb vs. #3 Central Arkansas - 5 PM ET
#1 FGCU vs. #4 EKU - 8 PM ET
Saturday, Nov. 23 - Final
TBD vs. TBD - 7 PM ET