By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – As the top finisher in the Landmark Conference regular season, the Juniata College women's volleyball team will host the semifinal and final rounds of the league championship, this weekend Nov. 8-9. After two first-round matches Tuesday night, the championship field has been set, with the top four seeded teams advancing. No.1 Juniata College and No. 2 Susquehanna University, both earned first round byes while No. 3 Catholic University of America and No. 4 The University of Scranton knocked off their first-round opponents to advance to the semifinal round.
No. 9 Juniata College - #1 Seed
The Eagles are a perfect 5-0 in Landmark play this year and have not dropped a league match since the inception of the Landmark, and are 41-0 overall. Juniata has won all six Landmark tournament titles and is currently ranked No. 9 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) top 25 poll. The Eagles are led by the triple threat of senior Amy Miller (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch), junior Amelia Kepler (Kane, Pa./Kane Area), and freshman Nakita Gearhart (Waynesboro, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim). Kepler is leading the team with 254 kills and averaging 2.95 kills per set. Miller is right behind with 227 kills and 2.32 kills per set and is leading the team with 38 service aces. As a team, Juniata has totaled 253 aces and is averaging 2.34 aces per set.
Susquehanna University - #2 Seed
The Crusaders have won a program-high 28 matches this year on their way to an overall record of 28-8, 4-1 in conference. Susquehanna finished the season two places higher than last year and its lone loss in conference play came at the hands of Juniata. The Crusaders are led this year by freshman standout Erin Byrne who leads Susquehanna in kills (383), kills per set (3.25), service aces (73) and aces per set (0.62). The Crusaders have three other hitters with triple digit kills and sophomore defensive specialist Sarah Paluck is leading the team in digs (387) and digs per set (5.30). This is Susquehanna's sixth trip to the Landmark semifinals, having only missed out once in 2007.
Catholic University of America - #3 Seed
The Cardinals grabbed the No. 3 seed in the tournament with a 3-2 league record. Catholic hosted six seeded Goucher College in a first round match up and came away with the 3-0 sweep to advance to the semi-finals. The 2012 Landmark runners up are led by freshman outside hitter Mary Paige Nesfeder who tops the Cardinals stats in kills (393), kills per set (3.09), service aces (55), and aces per set (0.43). In Catholic's first round match she finished with team-highs in both points (14) and digs (10). The Cardinals have five different hitters with triple digit kills. Freshman libero Michelle Bouchard and junior setter Miarianna Cruz are leading the defensive charge with 696 and 417 digs, respectively, and as a team, Catholic has totaled 307.5 blocks on the year.
The University of Scranton - #4 Seed
The Royals are making their first appearance in the conference semifinals since 2008. Scranton knocked off five seed Moravian College 3-1 in first round action after qualifying for the postseason with a 2-3 league record. Junior outside hitter Julia Crilly passed the Royals in their first-round match with 19 kills and 23 digs. She currently leads the team in kills (396), kills per set (3.38), service aces (61), and aces per set (0.52). Scranton's next three leaders in kills are sophomores Rachael Cisto (166), Lizzy Zimmerman (153), and Stephanie Klug (151). Overall, the Royals are averaging 9.36 kills per set and 1.77 aces per set.
Semifinal action will begin in Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center on Nov. 8 with Juniata vs. Scranton at 5:30 p.m. followed by Susquehanna vs. Catholic at 8 p.m. The two remaining teams will then face off in the Landmark Conference Finals at 3 p.m., Saturday Nov. 9.
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