Foresters Fall in Crossroad League Quarters, Await National Tournament Decision 

Huntington, Ind.- In a high-stakes postseason battle filled with energy and intensity, the third-seeded Huntington women's volleyball team came up short in a 3–1 loss to sixth-seeded Marian on Saturday night inside Platt Arena in the Crossroads League Quarterfinals. 

The atmosphere carried a true tournament feel, with Forester fans bringing energy and intensity that matched the stakes of postseason play. Marian came out sharp in the opening frame, hitting .367 en route to a 25–14 win before Huntington regrouped to even the match with a 25–19 victory in set two. The Foresters rode a balanced attack and steady defense to stay within striking distance all evening, led by Leah Carter's nine kills and 11 points. 

The third set proved to be the turning point of the night — a back-and-forth battle where neither team led by more than two points until the very end. The Foresters and Knights traded sideouts nearly every rally, with Carter, Trevyn Terry, and Maisyn Robrock each coming up with timely kills to keep HU in front midway through. Lauren Ross distributed the offense with poise, while Huntington's block slowed down Marian's outside hitters. The set featured 20 ties, with HU last leading 22–21 before Marian closed on a 4–0 run to steal the frame, 25–22. 

That late surge swung the momentum firmly in the Knights' favor, and Marian carried it into the fourth, closing out the match 25–14 to advance in the league tournament. 

"My frustration stems from the fact that our team set intentional goals at the beginning of the season, and the team has put in the work to achieve them," said head coach Kelsey Herber. "This week we didn't own the opportunity before us. We are in a challenging position where we don't know if we are going to the national tournament or not. We are going to train and prepare like we are going so that we can be the best version of ourselves if that opportunity comes our way."

Carter finished with nine kills and a .286 hitting percentage, while Terry added seven kills and a team-high six block assists. Ross posted 29 assists, six kills, and eight and a half points in a strong all-around effort. Libero Layla Meyer led the defense with 24 digs, and Robrock added six kills and two blocks. 

As a team, Huntington (24–8, 12–6 CL) recorded 12 block assists and 76 digs on the night. 

Despite the setback, the Foresters now turn their attention to the NAIA National Tournament Selection Show, set for November 17 at 4:00 p.m. Central Time. Ranked 20th in the most recent RPI, HU remains in strong position to earn an at-large bid to the national tournament. 

The loss caps off one of the program's best regular seasons in recent memory, as the Foresters' 24 wins mark their highest total since 2007–08. Under head coach Kelsey Herber's leadership, HU has continued to raise the bar — proving once again that success built on teamwork, discipline, and Christ-centered character can shine at the highest level of competition. 

The Huntington University Foresters compete in 18 intercollegiate sports for men and women. In the past decade, Huntington has produced 181 NAIA All-America honors and 631 All-America Scholar Athlete honors. Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest.