ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Quincy University women's volleyball team saw its season come to a dramatic close Thursday afternoon in the Midwest Regional Quarterfinal, falling in five sets to third-seeded and No. 20 Ferris State University by scores of 25-23, 25-17, 25-27, 17-25, and 9-15 in St. Louis. Quincy controlled the early stages of the match, winning each of the first two sets and later rallying late in the third, but the Bulldogs found their rhythm just in time to complete a reverse sweep and advance to the regional semifinals.

The opening set delivered exactly what postseason volleyball promises: long rallies, tight scores, and neither team able to gain more than a two-point edge for much of the frame. Tied at 14, Quincy sparked a four-point run behind four straight kills from Susanna Beretti to create separation. Ferris State answered immediately with a run of its own to knot the score at 18. After trading points, Quincy made another late push on a 3-0 run featuring kills from Janelle Pye-Blacknard and Erin Matzke to go ahead 23-20. Once again, Ferris responded to pull even, but Matzke delivered in the closing moments with two straight kills to secure the set. The Hawks totaled 20 kills and hit .300 in the frame, while the Bulldogs finished with 15 kills and hit .298.

Set two was dominated by Quincy from the start. The Hawks raced out to a 12-3 advantage, forcing Ferris State into multiple adjustments to its lineup. The Bulldogs tried to claw their way back, but Quincy's balanced attack proved to be too much. With the Hawks leading 24-13, Ferris put together a brief four-point surge, but a service error ended the set and gave Quincy a commanding two-set lead. Quincy finished the frame with 15 kills to Ferris State's nine.

Facing elimination, Ferris came out with renewed energy in the third, and the set turned into a back-and-forth battle filled with momentum swings. Leads were exchanged frequently, and just when one side threatened to pull away, the other responded. Quincy trailed 22-19 late, but surged back behind a kill from Matzke and two more from Beretti to tie the set at 22. The teams traded points all the way to 25-all, but the Bulldogs executed in the final rallies, scoring consecutive kills to extend the match. Quincy finished the set with 17 kills to Ferris State's 15, but the Bulldogs committed fewer errors in the deciding points.

Quincy grabbed early momentum with a 6-4 edge in the fourth, but it was at that moment Ferris State took control. The Bulldogs rattled off a five-point run to claim the lead and never looked back. Operating at their highest efficiency of the match, Ferris dominated the set while hitting .361 with just one attacking error, forcing a decisive fifth frame with a 25-17 victory.

Ferris State carried its rhythm into the final set and wasted no time building an advantage, jumping out to a 6-1 lead behind three service aces. Quincy responded with a brief three-point run to cut the deficit to 7-5, but Ferris answered again, winning the race to 10 and maintaining control down the stretch. The Bulldogs closed out the match 15-9 to complete the comeback and advance to the regional semifinals.

Quincy finished with 75 kills compared to Ferris State's 58, but the difference came down to efficiency. The Hawks committed 31 attack errors, while Ferris State was much cleaner with just 13, and the Bulldogs asserted control at the net with 15 total blocks to Quincy's five.

Individually, the Hawks were led by Susanna Beretti, who posted a double-double with 23 kills and 21 digs while hitting .294. Janelle Pye-Blacknard added 20 kills and 16 digs, and Selin Turgut contributed another double-double with 12 kills and 14 digs. Libero Lilly Marth delivered career-highs with four service aces and 27 digs, while Elena Kasavica once again quarterbacked the offense with 62 assists and 15 digs.

Despite the tough finish, Quincy closes the year at 24-7, marking the program's fourth straight season with 20-plus wins, three All-GLVC selections, and a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. The Hawks' consistency on the national stage continues to define the program, and the 2025 campaign stands as another chapter in a run of sustained success.