TIFFIN, Ohio - With three wins over conference foes this week, the Dragons knew what they had to do against Ashland to claim the sixth seed in the upcoming conference tournament: just win. Tiffin (15-14, 11-8 GLIAC) did just that with authority, downing Ashland (17-12, 10-9 GLIAC) in straight sets 25-23, 25-20, 25-22 on senior day at the Gillmor Center Saturday afternoon.

Tiffin outhit Ashland .294-.217 for the match and out-blocked the visitors 6-5. Brooke Bernabei led the Dragons with 12 kills while Danielle McQuade also reached double digits with 11. Margaret Betz had a team-leading .375 hitting percentage with eight kills and only two errors on 16 attempts.

Also for Tiffin, Jessica Adams had 45 of the teams 48 assists and also had eight digs. Lindsay Heller recorded a match-high 19 digs.

Susannah Jonas led Ashland with 17 kills with 11 spikes by Anesia Benton (.375 hitting percentage with 11 kills and two errors on 24 attempts). Crystal Elliot recorded all 38 assists for the Eagles.

Ashland came out with a purpose in the match and took a 4-1 lead, but Tiffin countered and tied the match thanks to an Eagle service error and kills from Giavanna DiPietro and Bernabei. With the score tied, Tiffin called a timeout and took control of the match. Brittany Teaford and Bernabei kills gave the Dragons the critical two-point advantage as both teams failed to score of their own serves and Tiffin took the first set by two.

The second set, Tiffin exerted its control and held on to take a 2-0 lead. With Adams serving to begin the set, a Betz kill, an assisted block by Betz and DiPietro and a service ace put Tiffin up 3-0. Ashland quickly countered a pair of kills by Katie Eckel wrapped around a spike by Benton to square the set. Ashland was unable to capitalize with a service error to kick off an amazing 11-1 run by the Dragons. A pair of kills by McQuade and Bernabei put Tiffin up 6-3, but Ashland forced a sideout to creep within four. A long service run by Heller all but put the Eagles out of the set. After a Betz kill put TU back on serve up three, kills by Bernabei and Adams with a Heller ace doubled the TU advantage and forced an AU timeout. The break did not help, and Tiffin took a 14-4 lead after two Ashland attack errors, another Heller ace and a Teaford kill forced the last Eagle's timeout.

Unlike the first timeout, this worked and a sideout, kill and block brought Ashland within seven, but a DiPietro kill ended the mini run. Ashland cut the deficit to 22-18, but a kill and a critical double hit on a set by AU's Elliot put Tiffin on set point. The Eagle's held twice, but a Bernabei kill ended the frame.

Holding a slim 19-18 in the third set, a critical Teaford service run gave Tiffin some breathing room. McQuade started out with a kill and an assisted block by Adams and Betz put the Dragons up three. McQuade capped the quick run with a kill to as Tiffin took a 22-18 lead. Ashland cut it down to two, but a DiPietro spike ended the set gave TU the critical conference win.

Tiffin returns to action Tuesday when it travels to Northern Michigan Wednesday. Check in with gotiffindraggons.com for all volleyball tournament information.