Dethroning Hatters

Dethroning Hatters

Hatters win semi final home game vs Queens 3–1

Made by: Jaime Suarez

The Stetson Hatters topple the visiting Queens Royals in four sets in the first game of their last home weekend action of the year. Stetson took the first two sets, with the first coming in potent fashion. Queens snuck up and stole the third set, before ultimately falling flat in the fourth. The Hatters improve to a 7–6 conference record, keeping their playoff aspirations alive. Meanwhile, Queens missed their opportunity to tank Stetson’s postseason chances with the loss, remaining at the bottom of the ASUN with a 1–12 record. Not many chances for them to get one last win either, facing a final three-game stretch of FGCU, Kennesaw State, and Eastern Kentucky to cap off their disappointing second season of Division I play.

Errors were bountiful in this match, with each team having at least 15 attacking errors, 5 service errors, 8 receiving errors, and a blocking error. Queens was the most mistake-prone of the two, however, having 27 attack errors and 9 service errors (Blk & Rec errors were even). While Stetson managed to keep their errors lower, they upped their blocking numbers, completely dominating the Royals with 14 assisted blocks and 2 solo blocks resulting in 9.0 total blocks. Queens only managed 2 total blocks, coming off a pair of solo blocks. The Hatters produced a 28.6% hitting percentage, and all of their offensive stars showed up. Every Stetson hitter had no less than a 22.6% hitting percentage, with Sophia Groom, Leilani Vitale, and Nyah Molina (in 8 attacks) exceeding 30.0%. Each of Stetson’s top four attackers per volume- Groom, Vitale, Anabelle Standish, and Amaris- had 10 to 11 kills in at least 22 or more hits, with Groom as the most effective with a 33.3% hitting percentage. Freshman Lilly Mueller received a good amount of attacking volume tonight reaching 14 total attacks, producing 9 points and a 28.6% hitting percentage off of 6 kills and 2 errors. Mueller was also the team’s leading blocker with 3.0 total blocks, leading to an overall impressive showing by the rookie.

All in all, the Hatters did tonight what they have been doing all season (save for the Central Arkansas game): beat up on the weaker teams and put some fight into the tougher teams in the conference. Tonight’s game was indicative of that, but the true victory laps will have to wait until tomorrow as they face off against the Kennesaw State Owls, who arrive at DeLand after a 3–1 loss to the dominant FGCU Eagles.