The Colorado College volleyball team won three of four matches at the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference crossover matches last weekend at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, improving to 15-6 overall and 7-1 in the conference.

 

But a three-set loss to No. 17 Southwestern University in the final match on Sunday brought an end to the Tigers' 10-match winning streak and cost CC as share of first place in the SCAC standings.

 

Colorado College opened the weekend by coming from behind to post an 18-25, 25-22, 25-21, 26-24 victory over DePauw University. Sophomore outside hitter Emily Perkins had 18 kills and 10 digs to record her fourth double-double of the season.

 

Senior outside hitter Anna Clithero posted her eighth double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs, while freshman opposite hitter Meredith Ballard added 10 kills. Junior libero Holli Palmer had a career-high 20 digs.

 

The Tigers picked up their seventh sweep in nine matches with a 25-17, 25-23, 25-13 victory over Centre College in Saturday's second outing. Clithero paced CC with 14 kills on 27 attacks and just one error.

 

In Sunday's first match, CC allowed its fewest points of the season in a 25-8, 25-9, 25-12 victory over Sewanee. Perkins posted a .500 attack percentage with a team-high seven kills on 12 attempts. Sophomore setter Colleen Keresey had three service aces as the Tigers tied their season high with 13, the eighth time this year they finished in double figures. 

 

The longest winning streak in head coach Rick Swan's 11-year tenure and the longest since CC won 13 in a row from Oct. 7-24, 1987, came to an end with the 25-17, 25-21, 25-15 defeat to Southwestern.

 

Clithero had a team-high 10 kills to pace the Tiger attack, while freshman outside hitter Sarah Schmoker had eight kills on 13 attempts. Perkins led the defense with 18 digs and a pair of blocks, and her seven kills helped her move into 19th place on the program's career kill list with 625.

 

Colorado College will travel to NAIA Johnson & Wales University in Denver for its only match of the week on Friday.