Mobile, Alabama-2022 has been a season of firsts for the Edward Waters women's volleyball program. Those firsts continued on Thursday afternoon at the 2022 Cricket Wireless SIAC Women's Volleyball Championship as the East Division Champions and #1 seed faced off against West Division #4 seed Miles College in a quarterfinal matchup at the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreational Center on the campus of Spring Hill College. As was the case in their earlier meeting this season, the Lady Tigers made quick work of the Golden Bears, earning a 3-0 sweep.

Prior to the start of Thursday's match, Edward Waters was presented with their 2022 SIAC East Division Championship trophy. Additionally, sophomore outside hitter Fatima Ramirez received her 2022 SIAC Women's Volleyball Player of the Year trophy, freshman setter Mataiya Barber received her SIAC Setter of the Year award, and freshman middle blocker Saniya Spalding collected her Second Team All-SIAC award.

The Lady Tigers (25-9, 18-2 SIAC) displayed their dominance early and often in the match, facing little resistance from Miles (17-12,10-9 SIAC). For the match, Edward Waters hit a robust .386 and held the Golden Bears to a .000 hitting percentage. EWU also notched 44 kills, four service aces, six team blocks, and 35 assists to go along with 50 digs. 

The offensive wealth was equally spread throughout the team as Ramirez led the Lady Tigers and also tied for the match high with eight kills. Spalding and Audrianna Jones each had seven kills, while sophomore Catherine Richards and the returning Saldy Amparo Smith each chipped in with six. Junior Natalija Vukadinovic collected a match high three service aces for Edward Waters, with Barber showing why she earned her Setter of the Year award with 35 assists. Defensively, Amparo Smith and Richards each had three blocks, while senior libero Andrea Diaz Merced turned in a match-high 20 digs for the Purple & Orange.

Edward Waters will advance to the semifinal round of the single-elimination tournament as they will face the West Division's #2 seed, Lane College, who advanced in the first game of the tournament with a sweep of Savannah State, on Friday afternoon at 5:00pm EST/4:00pm CST.

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