The Dordt Defender volleyball team concluded pool play at the NAIA National Championship with a 3-1 win over The Master’s late Thursday night. Dordt was the pool champion and advances to the 16-team elimination bracket that begins play on Friday at 9:00 AM. Dordt’s match is at 11:15 and it will face Eastern Oregon.
Dordt started slowly and never led in set one before falling 25-22. Dordt had the lead down to 20-19 after an attack error by the Mustangs but Dordt couldn’t complete the comeback and fell 25-22 after getting within 22-21 on a block by Ema Altena and Leah Kamp.
The Defenders found themselves down 14-8 in set two before rallying to tie the score 23-23 with a Kamp kill. Dordt had to tie it again at 24 and 25 and didn’t lead until a Julia Linbergh kill put the Defenders in front 26-25. The Master’s had one more set point serve at 27-26 but Ally Krommendyk had a kill and a block to give Dordt the lead and Erica Bousema finished the set with a service ace for a 29-27 win.
Dordt pulled away from an 8-7 lead in set three to lead 20-11 and won 25-16 with little suspense and that continued into set four as Dordt scored the first eight points and won 25-12.
