Aug. 29, 2009

Boston College Volleyball Fights Back To Defeat Seton Hall, 3-2
Eagles Complete Tournament With 3-1 Win Over Fordham

BUFFALO, New York. - The Boston College volleyball team battled back from being down 2-1 to defeat Seton Hall, 3-2 at Alumni Arena in Buffalo, New York. The victory evened BC's record at 1-1 for the season while Seton Hall falls to 0-2.

The final set showed the Eagles' true hearts, as five kills and only four errors propelled them past Seton Hall with a 15-10 fifth set win, giving Boston College its first victory of the young season.

In the second match the Eagles finished a successful weekend tournament by beating the Fordham University Rams, 3-1 at Alumni Arena in Buffalo, New York. BC utilized their momentum very effectively during the first two sets, tallying a combined total of 28 kills and only two errors on their way to earning a 25-20 win in the first set and a 25-13 in the second.

Seminole's Move To 21-0 All-Time Against FAMU and Claim FSU Invitational Crown

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida State volleyball team defeated Florida A&M in three sets Saturday night (25-18, 25-23, 25-19) and in doing so, wrapped up the Florida State Invitational championship for the fourth-straight season.

By defeating the cross-town Rattlers, the Seminoles not only advanced to 3-0 on the season but they also moved to 21-0 all-time against Florida A&M (0-3).

The weekend caps off a strong start to the 2009 season for FSU as a showdown with rival Florida looms on Monday night. Still, head coach Chris Poole knows that the team has a lot of room to improve as the season progresses.

Virginia Tech blocks 19 in win over Spartans
Hokies torch Flames, win fourth-straight Hokie Invite

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech volleyball squad rolled to a 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-15, 25-8) victory over UNC Greensboro in the Hokies second match of the Hilton Garden Hokie Invitational on Saturday afternoon in Cassell Coliseum.

The Hokies (2-0, 0-0 ACC) blocked 19 attacks, all coming in the final three sets, to the Spartans' (0-2, 0-0 SOCON) five, out-blocking Greensboro 19-1 in the final three frames. The 19 blocks is the most for a Hokie team since Tech blocked 21 against Georgia Tech on Nov. 2, 2007. The Hokies hit at a .230 clip on the match, and held the Spartans to a .050 hitting percentage.

In the second match Virginia Tech made it four years in a row that it swept its home opening tournament, defeating Liberty 3-0 (25-22, 26-24, 25-18) on Saturday night in Cassell Coliseum to capture the 2009 Hilton Garden Hokie Invitational crown. With the victory, Tech head coach Chris Riley moves to 12-0 in the annual tournament and wins his fourth consecutive Hokie Invite crown. The Hokies have only lost 10 sets under Riley in the event.

Clemson defeats Winthrop, 3-0, in Big Orange Bash
Clemson Downs College of Charleston, 3-1, to Conclude Big Orange Bash

CLEMSON, SC (ClemsonTigers.com) - Clemson defeated Winthrop, 3-0, on Saturday in the Big Orange Bash morning session. The Tigers (1-1) hit an efficient .326 in the match, recording 40 kills to only 10 errors in 92 attacks. Clemson also played strong defense, picking up 14 total blocks and holding Winthrop to a .075 hitting mark.

With Natalie Patzin serving in the third set, the Tigers sprinted to a 7-0 lead on two Rand kills and a block with Murphy. An Ozdemir kill gave the Tigers a 17-6 edge to put the match all but out of reach

In the second match the Tigers picked up thier second win of the day by using strong defense to power past College of Charleston, 3-1 (24-26, 25-19, 25-17, 25-20), in front of 1007 fans at Jervey Gymnasium. The Tigers finished the Big Orange Bash with a 2-1 mark to place second overall. Kelsey Murphy and Didem Ege were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Georgia Tech Volleyball Cruises Past Austin Peay, 3-0
Yellow Jackets Sweep Mercer, 3-0, To Win Regency Suites Invitational

ATLANTA - Freshman Monique Mead recorded her second straight double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs as the Georgia Tech Volleyball team (2-0) cruised to a 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-17) win over Austin Peay (1-1) Saturday afternoon at O'Keefe Gym.

Sophomore Asia Stawicka had eight kills for the Jackets and hit .667, while juniors Mary Ashley Tippins and Jordan McCullers had seven digs apiece. Senior Chrissy DeMichelis had three solo blocks and Stawicka accounted for seven total blocks.

In the second match Senior Chrissy DeMichelis and sophomore Bailey Hunter combined for 24 kills as the Georgia Tech Volleyball team (3-0) swept Mercer (0-3), 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-17), Saturday night at O'Keefe Gym to win the Regency Suites Invitational.

Cavaliers Earn First Win, Sweep Iona

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Virginia volleyball team rebounded from a tough first day at the Texas A&M Invitational by sweeping Iona, 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-16), on Saturday morning to earn its first win of the season. The Cavaliers conclude the season opening tournament with a record of 1-2, while Iona falls to 0-3 on the season.

Sophomore Simone Asque collected her first double-double of the year to lead the Cavaliers. Asque knocked down 12 kills to go with a season-best 12 digs and had two blocks.

Senior Lauren Dickson tallied 11 kills and hit .455 in the match, while freshman Rachel Gray dished out a personal-best 31 assists. Junior AJ Cushman led the defensive efforts, collecting 15 digs.

Duke Splits Final Two Matches At InnTower Invitational

MADISON, Wisc. -- The Duke volleyball team split its final two matches at the InnTower Invitational, topping South Dakota 3-0 (25-12, 25-19, 25-22) in Saturday's opener before falling 3-0 (29-27, 25-19, 25-22) to Ohio Saturday evening at the UW Field House. Duke (2-1, 0-0 ACC) picked up two wins overall at the InnTower Invitational after taking down host Wisconsin 3-2 in the opening match.

Against South Dakota (0-2), Blue Devil freshman Megan Hendrickson hammered 12 kills and finished with a .375 hitting percentage in just her second collegiate match.

But while Duke did little wrong in the sweep over South Dakota, Ohio turned the tables on the defensive end with nine blocks and in the serving game where the Bobcats dropped in 12 service aces. Four different Bobcats recorded multiple service aces, including Katie Post, who had four, and Helen Herman and Michelle Jantsch who had three apiece.

Hurricanes Take Down Prairie View A&M, 3-0
Miami Falls in Volleyball Action to USF, 3-1

Coral Gables, Fla. - Maria Andersson set a school-record for service aces in a three-set match (7) in helping the University of Miami volleyball squad defeat Prairie View A&M, 3-0 (25-8, 25-17, 25-16).

Miami (2-0) used 12 service aces while hitting a school fifth-best .421 clip (30-6-57) for the match in advancing to the championship match of this year's Hurricane Invitational.

In the second match Marcela Gurgel staked 19 kills on her way to being named tournament MVP in helping lead the USF Bulls past the University of Miami, 3-1 (25-18, 26-24, 18-25, 25-22), in a volleyball matchup Saturday evening in the championship match of the Hurricane Invitational at the James L. Knight Sports Complex in Coral Gables, Fla.

Terps Rally to Top Youngstown State
Villanova Tops Terps In Tournament Finale

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Trailing two sets to none against Youngstown State, the University of Maryland volleyball team answered with three consecutive wins to fend off defeat and post an exciting victory Saturday afternoon on the second day of the Spring Hill Suites at Arundel Mills Maryland Invitational.

The Terps (2-0) dropped the first two sets, 25-21 and 25-23, respectively, heading into the intermission break, but answered with wins by scores of 25-15, 25-17 and 16-14.

In the second match the Terps fell in three sets to tournament champion Villanova Saturday evening at Comcast Pavilion. The Wildcats (3-0) swept the match by scores of 25-20, 25-21 and 25-15. Sophomore Maddi Lee and freshman Kara Bates made the all-tournament team after solid starts to the 2009 season.

Wake Forest Volleyball Falls To Jacksonville State 3-1
Wake Forest Drops Second Five-Set Match of The Weekend To Furman

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Backed by solid defense, Jacksonville State held Wake Forest in check and went on to claim a 3-1 victory on day two of the 2009 Deacon Invitational in Reynolds Gym.

The Deacs were led by freshman Andrea Beck with eight kills and two blocks. Sophomore Carlin Salmon recorded three kills and a career-best seven total blocks. She also added a pair of service aces.

In the second match Wake Forest fell for the second time on the opening weekend, the Wake Forest volleyball team came up on the wrong side of a five-set match, this time to Furman, on the final night of the 2009 Deacon Invitational.

NC State Volleyball Falls to Campbell
Wolfpack Fends Off Davidson, 3-1

RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State volleyball dropped a 3-0 decision to Campbell at the Hilton RTP Classic on Saturday, Aug. 29. The loss moves the Pack to 2-1 on the year, while the Camels climb to 3-0.

Isis Gardner led the Wolfpack offense with 10 kills and three total blocks, while Lindsay Benac supplied 12 digs. Alex Smith lifted 18 assists and dropped five kills, while Sarah Griggs contributed seven scores.

In the second match NC State capped off a 3-1 opening weekend by downing Davidson 3-1. Jana Angel led the Pack offense with 10 kills and five total blocks, while Lisa Kretchman supplied eight kills. Alex Smith lifted 34 assists, and Lindsay Benac supplied 11 digs. Sarah Griggs landed two service aces.

Heels Fall To Trojans 3-0
North Carolina Loses Second Match to Spartans 3-2

EAST LANSING, MICH. - North Carolina fell to Southern Cal in three sets Saturday in the second game of the MSU Showcase. Carolina falls to 1-1 on the year as the Trojans improve to 1-1 on the season.

Suzanne Haydel led the Tar Heels posting five kills and 11 digs. Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland also posted six kills for the Tar Heels. The Trojans were led by Alex Jupiter's 11 kills and Kendall Batmen's 36 assists.Southern Cal posted a .296 hitting percentage and 49 kills to Carolina's .159 percentage and 23 kills.

In the second match North Carolina dropped a tough game to Michigan State in their final game of the MSU Showcase 3-2. Both Courtney Johnston (12) and Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland (16) were one shy of their career kills. Suzanne Haydel added 13 kills for the Heels, who hit .288 on the night with 63 kills. Carolina falls to 1-2 on the year as the Spartans improve to 3-0.