HUNTINGDON, Pa.- For the nine straight years since it joined the Landmark conference, the Juniata women's volleyball has been the #1 seed in the postseason tournament. The 10th time will be no different as the Eagles defeated Goucher and Catholic by 3-0 scores on Saturday at Memorial Gym to finish 6-0 in the conference and claim the top position once again.
Against the Gophers, Suzanne Gloeckler (Pittsburgh, Pa./Oakland Catholic) led JC with nine kills and hit .562. Brittanie Tannenbaum (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Highlands Ranch) added eight kills. Katie Thomas (Batesville, Ind./Batesville) contributed 33 assists and two service aces. Katie Byrne (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) picked up nine digs with Thomas adding six and Tannenbaum chipping in four. The Eagles collectively hit .418.
Juniata broke a 3-3 tie in the first set with seven straight points to go ahead 10-3. The Gophers were able to slice their deficit to five points at 16-11 but the Eagles increased their lead to 20-11 and held off Goucher to take a 1-0 lead in the set.
The Eagles dominated in the second and third sets. Juniata led off the third set with eight straight points to go up 8-0. At 14-6, Goucher was able to to get to 14-10 but an 11-3 Juniata run ended any hope of a Gopher comeback as the Eagles won 25-13.
In the nightcap against the Cardinals, Nakita Gearhart (Waynesboro, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) led with 13 kills and hit .429. Glen Brumm (Oro Valley, Ariz./Canyon Del Oro) tacked on 10 kills. Kelly Reynolds (Upper Saint Clair, Pa./Upper Saint Clair) put up 40 assists. Defensively, Byrne totaled 19 digs. Mar-Jana Phillips (Carson, Calif./Rolling Hills Prep) collected three solo blocks and an assisted block. Megan Moroney (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) had five assisted blocks.
Catholic went ahead 4-1 early in the first set. A 13-4 Juniata run put the Eagles up 14-8. A 7-1 CUA rally tied the set at 15-15. JC was able to get ahead 20-17 and dropped five straight points to take the frame.
JC raced out to a 5-0 lead in the second set. The advantage grew to 20-11. The Cardinals narrowed their deficit to 24-21 but Gearhart's kill from Reynolds' assist notched the winner for the Eagles.
The Eagles led 12-6 in the third set. Catholic clawed its way back and trailed 16-15. JC kept its distance from the Cardinals tallied the last three points in the set for a 25-19 win.
Juniata returns to Memorial Gymnasium next Friday when it hosts the Wid Guisler Tournament. The Eagles face Eastern University at 7:00 p.m.