By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: JD Cavrich Photography
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – In a long day at Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center, the No.11 Juniata College women's volleyball defeated DeSales University 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-20) and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) 3-1 (25-19, 25-15, 23-25, 25-15) to win the 2013 Wid Guisler Invitational. Freshman Nakita Gearhart (Waynesboro, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) was named tournament MVP and junior libero Brittani Young (Columbia, Pa./Hempfield) and freshman setter Kelly Reynolds (Upper Saint Clair, Pa./Upper Saint Clair) were named to the All-Tournament team.
"You can see Nakita getting better with every passing day," said head coach Heather Pavlik. "Every time she comes out and plays you just see improvement. She started a little rough in this match and she found a way to pick it back up and figure it out and get into a groove. That's progress. For a freshman to be able to start poorly and find a way to be good later in the match is pretty impressive."
In the morning match against DeSales Juniata held the late 18-8 lead before the Bulldogs scored three points in a row. But the Eagles were too much for DeSales, as Juniata took the first set 25-13. Senior Amy Miller (Chesapeake, Va./ Western Branch) had five kills alone in the first set.
In the second set, Juniata doubled DeSales point total late in the match at 18-9. Senior Rachelle Wiegand (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) took over serving at 19-12 and the Eagles took six of the next eight points to win set two 25-14.
The third set was a much tighter battle with DeSales climbing within three points of Juniata at 18-15. The Eagles were able to hold out for the 25-20 win and the three set sweep. Gearhart and classmates Brittanie Tannenbaum (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Highlands Ranch) and Mar-Jana Phillips (Carson, Calif./Rolling Hills Preparatory), along with Lauren Hess of DeSales, tied for the match-high with six kills.
"[Brittanie and Mar-Jana] been improving all year long," said Pavlik. "It's been a nice easy progression for both of them. They've improved each and every day and they've worked very hard to do that. They're starting to understand the game at a higher level and that's half the battle. The game just starts to slow down for freshmen at some point. Where in the first month it feel like it's going 100 miles an hour, now they've settled into understanding what playing at this level means."
In the final match of the weekend, the Eagles fought off their hardest opponent of the tournament, taking down CMU 3-1. Junior Amelia Kepler (Kane, Pa./Kane Area) was dominant from the service line, knocking down five of Juniata's 16 aces.
"Our service game has been helping us all year long," said Pavlik. "It's probably one of the aspects of the game that we do best. Even when we make a few errors the pay-off on the ace side or getting our opponent out of system is totally worth it. This is one of the better serving teams I've ever had."
The Tartans held tight with the Eagles in the first set. But sophomore Bryce Arnold (Shippensburg, Pa./Shippensburg Area) went on a four point serving run and Miller hammered out one of her six kills of the match for the 25-19 win.
In the second set, Juniata went on two different five point runs from Kepler's serve. The Eagles took a quick 7-2 lead, but the Tartans wrestled their way back into the set until Juniata plowed ahead 21-10. The Eagles gave up the next four points before closing the door on the set at 25-15.
"[Amy and Amelia] have been pretty steady the whole way," said Pavlik. "Some weekends are better than others, but they are playing with a nice maturity. Even when they are struggling with one part of their game, they find ways to make impacts in other areas. That usually comes with maturity and some time playing the game. To not let one part of the game you're struggling with effect everything else."
The third set was an intense bout with CMU taking the early lead and the Eagles forced to battle back. Juniata fought off three set points, but the Tartans took set three 25-23 to force a fourth. The Eagles made quick work of the fourth set reaching match point at 24-13. CMU won the next three points, but senior Courtney Lydick (McKean, Pa./General McLane) slammed down the final kill for the 25-15 set, and match, win. Gearhart finished with a match-high 11 kills on the night and a .300 attack percentage. Young totaled a match-high 15 digs against DeSales and a match-high 16 digs against CMU.
"I thought Brittani was extremely steady this weekend," said Pavlik. "She just didn't waver at all. We knew what we were going to get from her. She did a great job passing the ball. There were times where other passers were struggling and she was cheating over in front of them and taking the ball. I thought she had a great weekend."
The Eagles next travel to Atlanta, Ga. for the Emory National Invite in their final weekend of regular season play. Juniata will host the Landmark Conference Tournament beginning Friday Nov. 8.
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