Bruised and battered, sweaty and tired, Washington University’s volleyball team gave everything they had but were unable to overcome No. 8 Ohio Northern University in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship.

“We played all we could play. We laid it all out there,” senior outside hitter Alli Alberts said. “I’d be upset if we didn’t.”

The No. 3 volleyball team’s quest for back-to-back national titles ended with a 3-1 loss, halting an eight-year streak of regional championships and a nine-year win streak against No. 8 Ohio Northern University (ONU). Northern upset No. 5 Wittenberg University 3-2 on Friday.

Polar Bear junior Liz Schnelle had seven kills in the first frame and 22 overall to establish a 6-1 Northern lead. Wash. U. could not close the gap beyond three points after committing nine errors throughout the set and fell 25-15.

The second set proved more competitive, as the Red and Green fought a point-for-point battle, pulling away to a 13-8 lead off a kill by senior outside hitter Ali Crouch. The Polar Bears rumbled back with strong serving to tie the set at 16. A kill by Northern’s Schnelle collided with senior right side hitter Nikki Morrison’s wrist with such force that Morrison, who was 2008 UAA MVP, was pulled for the rest of the match. As of press time, it is not known if Morrison’s wrist is sprained or broken.

A quartet of ONU kills widened the gap, and a 4-0 run at the 19-point mark sealed the Bears’ fate in the second set.

Coming out of the break and digging deep within for everything it had, Wash. U. played for every point. A block by freshman middle hitter Erin Kasson and Alberts, a solo block by Kasson and an ace by Crouch increased Wash. U.’s lead to 18-11. The Polar Bears clawed back to 20-17, though two kills by both Crouch and Kasson and strong defensive efforts put the game out of reach.

The fourth set was a fierce battle, as the Bears contested every single hit. “It came down to focus and being able to stop runs,” junior libero Laura Brazeal said. Two Wash. U. errors and two Northern blocks had Wash. U. trailing at the 7-11 mark. Despite their best efforts, the Red and Green could not overcome the lead and lost 25-19.

Brazeal led the defense with 28 digs as players were running into the bench and diving across the court to keep play alive. Offensively, Kasson was a powerhouse with 14 kills, Crouch recorded 12 and junior middle hitter Erin Albers had 11. Senior setter Audra Janak’s 48 assists aided her in leading several Bear comebacks. Janak and Morrison declined interviews about their last match.

“[Ohio Northern] wanted it more,” Kasson said. “Not that we didn’t want it. They just played better. They didn’t make as many mental mistakes.” Wash. U. committed 26 attack errors while Northern only had 14.

In the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament, the Bears dispatched Frostburg State and the College of Mount St. Joseph in 3-0 sweeps. Morrison led with 11 kills in the 25-9, 25-13 and 25-16 victory over Frostburg State.

The College of Mount St. Joseph took the Bears as far as they could go without winning a set in the 27-25, 25-20, 25-22 match. Albers and Kasson powered Wash. U. with key blocks that halted Lion comebacks. Albers had 14 kills, and Kasson had five block assists.

“We are disappointed we lost, but we have to reflect on all the greats things that happened,” Head Coach Rich Luenemann said. “One loss is just a loss. It’s not the end of the world.”

The American Volleyball Coaches Association named Kasson as AVCA Central Region Freshman of the Year. Alberts, Janak, Morrison and Albers were named to the All Central Region first team. Those platitudes add to the list of honors garnered this season including a UAA title. “I’m just happy to be part of this team this year,” Kasson said.

Despite the graduation of Alberts, Crouch, Janak and Morrison, other players have taken up the University tradition.

“The first challenge of the returning players is for leaders to step forward by example, being vocal and saying ‘Okay. This season is over, but our future lies ahead of us. Let’s plan to get back to the Final Four again,’” Luenemann said.

The seniors are confident in the future success of their younger teammates.

“I keep telling [the underclassmen], ‘You’re going to win your own national championship,’” Crouch said. “They don’t need us. They’re only going to get better.”