Box Score BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Panthers (21-11 overall) concluded a Cinderella season on Thursday afternoon, taking on the Knights of Calvin as part of the Opening Round of the NCAA Championships, 3-0 (21-25, 23-25, 15-25).
 
Hanover advanced to the NCAA Championships after claiming the no. four seed in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament and knocking off both the no. 1 seed Earlham and the no. 2 seed Transylvania.
 
NCAA OPENING ROUND STATS
Junior Abbey McCoy paced the Panther attack with a team-high 10 kills and a .333 hitting percentage. Three Panthers finished with seven kills – freshman Kinzee Dean, senior Elliot Mays, and senior Kelsey Waggoner.
 
Sophomore Madison Schicker collected 12 digs, while McCoy picked up eight.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Calvin claimed an early lead in set one using their size at the net to capture a 7-3 difference. Despite being outsized, Hanover continued to play scrappy catching Calvin off guard. Freshman Kinzee Dean posted a kill that cut the difference to 19-15. Mays, Robertson, and Waggoner paced a Panther rally late into the set. Despite the hitting success, Calvin secured the set 25-21.
 
Hanover dominated the opening moments of set two using success at the service line. The duo of Schicker and Mays propelled them to a commanding 8-2 advantage. Following a Calvin timeout, the Knights regained composure with a 6-0 outburst that pulled them within 12-12. The Panthers clawed for every point getting kills from Waggoner and McCoy tying the score. Mays tallied the Panthers final point of the set, surrendering 25-23.
 
The final set of the afternoon was all Calvin. Despite Hanover edging the Knights in kills 11-10, Calvin used their accuracy, posting a set three .273 hitting percentage and success at the service line.
 
THANK YOU SENIORS
The Panthers graduate three outstanding seniors – Elliot Mays, Maddie Robertson, and Kesley Waggoner.
 
Head Coach Peter Preocanin had this to say post-game - "This team never quit, I am truly going to miss this team and these seniors."
 
Maddie Robertson – "We are all just so excited to be here and for this opportunity to compete on this stage."
 
Elliot Mays – "This is so great for our program. We are building a solid program going forward with a lot of young talent."
 
Kelsey Waggoner – "We are all just taking in this moment. Being here and playing, just all of it has been a great experience."