Box Score RICHMOND, Ind. – Hanover claimed the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Crown, knocking off the no. 2 seed Transylvania 3-2 (20-25, 25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 15-11). Hanover dominated the HCAC Tournament, defeating both the no. 1 and no. 2 seed en route to the NCAA Tournament berth. Hanover advances to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017 when they traveled to Berry.
 
Three Panthers earned All-HCAC Tournament honors – Senior Elliot Mays, senior Kelsey Waggoner, and Tournament Most Valuable Player senior Maddie Robertson.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Senior Maddie Robertson led the attack with a team-high 17 kills for a .333 hitting percentage. Elliot Mays tallied 15 kills for a .353 hitting percentage while junior Abbey McCoy and Kelsey Waggoner recorded 13 kills apiece. Waggoner also added three aces with 23 digs.
 
Sophomore Madison Schicker picked up 26 digs while Natalie West collected 20 digs.
 
Hanover finished the contest with 65 total digs, 58 assists, and eight service aces.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Despite a strong opening set, the Panthers surrendered the opener 25-20. Maddie Robertson led the Panther attack with multiple kills, including a crucial first-touch kill that kept Hanover within striking distance. Mays provided crucial assistance off the bench to keep Transylvania on their heels.
 
Hanover found their rhythm in the second set, staging a comeback to even the match 1-1. Maddie Robertson continued to be the driving force, delivering multiple kills. Mays provided a key spark mid set when Robertson handled the rest. Maddie tallied the Panthers' final three kills, securing the 25-23 win.
 
The Panthers' most dominant performance came in the third set. Robertson was outstanding for the Blue and Red, as she helped propel them to a 12-7 difference. Waggoner delivered at the service line while her teammates Mays and McCoy hit the Pioneers with an offensive punch. The rest was history as Hanover won the set 25-18.
 
In a decisive fifth set, Hanover remained poised, en route to the Tournament Title. Sophomore Brooke Gervers opened with a service ace that set the tone for what was to come. Waggoner and McCoy handled the rest using timely kills to punch the Panthers' ticket to the NCAA Tournament.  
 
Hanover will await their match-up with the NCAA Selection Show on Monday at 1:00 PM.