(Posted November 3, 2004)

Juniata 3, Lebanon Valley 0

Huntingdon, Pa. ? The Juniata College women?s volleyball team began its postseason journey with a 3-0 victory over Lebanon Valley in a Commonwealth Conference Semifinal in Huntingdon Wednesday night. Juniata improves to 31-3 with the victory and will now host Susquehanna on Saturday in the Commonwealth Championship match. The winner will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Volleyball Tournament. The loss dropped Lebanon Valley?s record to 24-6 on the season.

Juniata claimed the match by game scores of 30-9, 30-17, 30-16. The Eagles will be looking for 24th-consecutive conference championship.

Game one was Juniata?s from the start as the Eagles raced to an 11-4 lead after a kill and an ace from Erin Wisor (Altoona/Altoona). With the score sitting at 17-9, Juniata scored the final 13 points of the game to claim the win. Katie Laucks (West York/York) had a pair of kills and a solo block during the closing run.

Game two was tied at seven after a kill from Lebanon Valley?s Katie Ferree. Juniata answered by piling up 10 of the next 15 points to take a 17-12 lead. Juniata would continue to expand the lead and seal the win with an ace from Carli Dale (Cochranton/Cochranton).

Game three progressed in similar fashion as Juniata pulled away late. Stephanie Kines (Towson/Towson, Md.) posted a pair of blocks and a kill to extend Juniata?s lead to 22-10, forcing a Lebanon Valley timeout. Aly Pompeania (Hopewell/Aliquippa) and Allie Phillips (Carlisle/Gardners) added two kills each down the stretch to cap the 30-16 victory.

Kines led Juniata with 10 kills and a .500 hitting percentage for the match, while also adding five blocks. Dale passed out 40 assists to help Juniata hit .400 as a team in the win. Tara McMinn (Huntingdon/Huntingdon) was one of three Eagles in double figures in digs with 14.

Jessica Guntz led Lebanon Valley with seven kills with Cat Roth adding 16 assists. Roth also led the way with eight digs.

The Conference Championship match will be held on Saturday in Huntingdon.

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.