WHEELING, W.Va. – Sixth-seeded Shepherd University volleyball team (29-7) dropped a five-set match to second-seeded Gannon (29-6) in semifinal action of the 2019 NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Atlantic Regionals at Wheeling University on Friday evening. The Rams dropped a 13-25, 25-18, 25-17, 23-25, 8-15 decision.

Senior outside hitter Cambriea Hill (Columbia, Md./Hammond)  recorded 17 kills and 12 digs to lead the Rams. Senior outside hitter Peyton Lindblad (Spotsylvania, Va./Riverbend) added 12 kills and five blocks.

Senior outside hitter Seone Goode (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) and freshman middle blocker Elyssia Smith (Fredericksburg, Va./Colonial Forge  each contributed six blocks for the Rams.  Goode also added seven kills and seven digs. Junior middle hitter Nicole Murray (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) added five blocks. 

Junior setter Jessica Karcz (Westminster, Md./Westminster) had 43 assists and 13 digs. Senior libero Imani Major (Gainesville, Va./Millbrook) recorded a match-high 28 digs.

Ally Smith had 18 kills and Lauren Sampson added 17 to lead the Golden Knights. Ashley Beyers added 51 assists and 26 digs.

Gannon edged the Rams in the fourth set with a 25-23 win and carried that momentum into the final set to earn the win.

The Golden Knights advance to face host Wheeling in the championship match on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Notes: Major finished her career as the program's all-time leader in digs with 2,049 … Lindblad finished her career with 1,416 kills … Hill increased her career kills total to 1,175 … Lindblad had 29 double-digit efforts in kills this season with five matches of 20 kills or more … Hill had 20 double-digit performances in kills with five outings of 20 kills or more … Shepherd opened the season with a record-setting 18-match winning streak ... the Rams have recorded 23 wins or more for the past three seasons.