CLU Women Advance in Volleyball Playoffs

Tracy Little had 19 kills and Karen Kasper added 15 as visiting Cal Lutheran defeated John Carroll (Ohio), 11-15, 15-8, 15-4, 15-11, in a quarterfinal match of the NCAA Division III women’s volleyball championships Saturday night in Whitewater, Wis.

Cal Lutheran (26-2) will play Wisconsin-Whitewater (35-3) in a semifinal Dec. 1 at a site to be determined.

The Regals fell behind, 9-2, before losing the first game but settled down after that.

“I don’t know if the team had some opening-game jitters, but I know I did,” Coach James Park said.

“I think we were just going through the motions in the first game. We made some adjustments [after that]. When we had Karen Kasper on the front row, we played great defense.”

Darcy White had 14 kills and 13 digs for the Regals, and Liz Martinez recorded 49 assists. Tara Thomas and Jennifer Pappas added 14 and 13 digs for Cal Lutheran, which has won 10 consecutive matches.

Katy Perrone had 21 kills for John Carroll (27-12).