Relentless in its pursuit of an SCAC playoff crown to go with its regular-season co-championship, Colorado College steamrolled into Saturday's title match with a no-doubter on Friday.

Triggered by three outside hitters with double-digit kills, the top-seeded and host Tigers swept Austin College, 25-18, 25-16, 25-14, in the conference semifinals at Reid Gymnasium. 

Now 22-9 overall for the season, they trailed only once in the entire contest when the Kangaroos grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second set. Otherwise, CC dominated from start to finish.

Offensively, it was freshmen Courtney Birkett and Emily Phillips, along with sophomore Kristen Liberty, who got the job done. Birkett paced the trio with 13 kills, while Phillips finished with 12 to go and 13 digs, and Liberty contributed 10. Phillips and Liberty also served four aces apiece.

Senior setter Kate Squires finished with 42 assists.

Freshman Sophie Merrifield and senior Laura Goldsmith led the defensive effort, collecting 20 and 18 digs, respectively, as the Tigers held Austin to a .043 attack percentage. Shelby Eaves had seven of the team's total of 21 kills.

CC made a statement early in the first set, using three Liberty aces to open a 6-1 lead. After the Roos pulled to within 7-4, the Tigers ran off six consecutive points to build a 13-4 advantage after Birkett put down two of her six first-set kills.

Austin led 5-3 in the second set after Ally Ahlberg was credited with a kill on a Colorado College blocking error, but the Tiger countered with a 10-2 run to re-gain the momentum.

After falling behind briefly in the third set, CC methodically took control. The Tigers took their biggest lead at 17-10 on a kill by Phillips, and she closed out the match with consecutive aces.

Colorado College will face the winner of Friday's other semifinal between Southwestern University and Trinity University in the SCAC championship match at 6 p.m. Saturday.