Senior middle hitter Shena Beheler (left) led MVNU (35-2, 11-1 AMC South) with 15 kills, nine digs, and three blocks against the Lady Cavaliers (26-7, 8-2 AMC South), who are ranked 24th in the latest NAIA poll and are unbeaten at home this year. Sophomore setter Kaylin Austen handed out 38 assists, while freshman middle hitter Jackie Albrecht pounded nine kills to go with four blocks. Junior outside hitter Audrey Hickinbotham and sophomore outside hitter Courtney Springer smashed eight and seven kills respectively with six digs apiece, and senior libero Tiffany Milburn totaled seven digs. Last season, MVNU handed Walsh its only conference loss when the Lady Cavaliers were on their way to capturing the conference title with a 15-1 conference mark.

“(Walsh) played very well tonight and was just outstanding in the back row,” said MVNU head coach Paul Swanson. “In our conference, you have to be on top of your game in order to beat teams. The first two games were really close, but (Walsh) was able to do some things just a little better than us and strung together points at critical times.”

“This loss does not take away anything from what the team has accomplished so far,” Swanson added of his team which is ranked 13th in the latest NAIA poll and had secured the AMC South Division title outright on Tuesday night with its win over Shawnee State University. “We were able to capture the regular-season conference title which is a very nice accomplishment. Now, we have to re-group and focus on the AMC Tournament next weekend.”

The Lady Cougars, whose only other loss this season came on September 22 against Georgetown (Ky.) College, who was ranked 13th in the NAIA at the time, will return to action next Friday when the team will host the six-team AMC Tournament. MVNU will play pool-play matches at 11:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. with their opponents still to be determined. The top two teams in both of the three-team pools will advance to the semifinals on Saturday. The winner of the AMC Tournament receives an automatic berth in the NAIA national tournament in Columbia, Missouri, on November 28-December 1.