(Posted October 20, 2006)

JUNIATA VOLLEYBALL WINS TOURNAMENT OPENER Juniata 3, Carnegie Mellon 0 HUNTINGDON, Pa. - The Juniata College women\'s volleyball team overcame slow starts in games on and two to earn a 3-0 victory over visiting Carnegie Mellon University on the opening night of the 2006 Juniata Invitational. The Eagles improved to 28-1 with the victory while the Tartans dropped to 14-12. Despite winning by fairly comfortable game scores of 20-23, 30-2 and 30-22 the Eagles were forced to battle from behind in each of the first two games. The Tartans scored the first four points of game one and led 15-10 following an Amanda Bradford kill. Juniata would rally to tie the score at 17 and then take the lead for good at 20-19 on a service ace from Beth Kozak (Huntingdon/Huntingdon). Kozak followed with another ace and a late kill from Erin Albert (Philipsburg-Osceola/Philipsburg) sealed the win. It was the same story in game two as an Abbie Toney kill put Carnegie Mellon in front 12-7 early in the game. Juniata fought back to tie the score at 13 and then claimed the lead for good on an Albert kill that made the score 15-14. Molly Sollenberger (Cumberland Valley/Mechanicsburg) followed by serving six-straight points, and earning one ace as Juniata pulled away. The Eagles got out in front early in game three, jumping to a 12-6 edge on a kill from Stephanie Kines (Towson/Towson, Md.). The Eagles extended the lead to eight, and after a Bradford kill pulled the visitors to within five, Juniata closed out the match with kills from Albert and Amber Thomas (Conestoga Valley/Ephrata). Thomas led Juniata\'s attack on the night with 13 kills, while Albert chipped in 12 and hit .450. Kozak passed out 46 assists in the contest, and led Juniata with 13 digs and two aces. Molly Sollenberger and Megan Sollenbergerg (Cumberland Valley/Mechanicsburg) each also had two aces, with Megan also bringing up 11 digs. Thomas and Kines led the Eagles with three blocks. Bradford led all players with 14 kills in the match. Brea Carlock and Samantha Carter each finished with 14 assists for the Tartans, and Carlock had both of the team\'s aces. Kat Fox produced 13 digs for Carnegie Mellon and Jessica Brackin paced all players with four blocks. Juniata returns to action on Saturday as the Eagles face Rutgers-Newark and Franklin & Marshall on the second day of the Juniata Invitational. ###

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