HUNTINGDON, PA – The No.5 Juniata women's volleyball team finished with a 4-0 record the ASICS Invitational with a 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-20, 25-20) win over No. 16 Clarkson Saturday night. The Eagles are now 8-0 on the season.
The Golden Knights pushed Juniata point-for-point throughout the match and made them really work for the win.
"They just dug so many balls and made so many scramble plays that they really forced us to hit a lot of different shots just to get through a rally," Pavlik said. "Both teams that played against us today (Clarkson and Mary Washington) are two quality teams, and I think this young group is still figuring out how to play from one until the last point and be consistent."
With five freshmen defensive specialists, the position is easily where Juniata is the most youthful. The group continues to be solid for the Eagles, totaling 50 digs against the Golden Knights. Tara Neidigh (State College, PA / State College HS) made the start against Clarkson and led with 25 digs.
Mar-Jana Phillips (Carson, CA / Rolling Hills Prep) and Nakita Gearhart (Waynesboro,PA / Greencastle-Antrim) pushed the Eagles in the third and fourth sets against Clarkson. Phillips finished with 26 kills and 56 total attacks. Gearhart had 12 kills and a .800 hitting percentage.
"This was definitely Mar-Jana's best match of the year so far, hands down," Pavlik said. "She carried us through games three and four. When we needed a kill, she somehow came up with it and she came up with some blocks as well."
Clarkson held Megan Moroney (Mentor, OH / Mentor) to nine kills in the match with a .067 hitting percentage. She had 11 in the match earlier in the day against Mary Washington with a .409 hitting percentage.
"I don't think we passed her well so I think her opportunities were very limited," Pavlik said. "Also, Clarkson played it really smart and loaded up on her."
Phillips and Moroney were named to the ASICS All-Tournament team and Gearhart was selected as tournament MVP. Gearhart recorded 36 kills with a .443 hitting percentage, one assist, two service aces, three solo blocks and 12 block assists over the weekend.
Juniata heads to the Christopher Newport Invitational next weekend to take on No. 3 Christopher Newport, Averett and Bethany (WV).
