SALEM, VA- The Juniata women's volleyball team triumphed 3-1 (22-25, 25-12, 25-20, 26-24) against the University of La Verne Leopards in the NCAA Quarterfinals, Wednesday evening inside the Cregger Center on the campus of Roanoke College.
Set one started a bit shaky for the number one-seeded Eagles. After taking a 4-1 lead in the opening five points, the Leopards began to gain some momentum. They won four out of the next five points to tie it at 5-5. From there, neither team held more than a three point lead for the rest of the set, and the Leopards kept Juniata from going on their typical run to gain the key separation on the scoreboard. La Verne gained their first lead at 10-11 in the midst of a 6-1 run as the teams went back and forth in small bursts, trading the lead on multiple occasions. At 20-20, one team was going to have to pull away. La Verne won two key points off of challenges late and ultimately snuck by with the 22-25 set victory.
Set two looked much more familiar to Juniata. The Eagles opened the set, winning seven of the first ten points, and they never trailed once they took their first lead. Up 16-10, the Eagles went on a 9-2 run to close out the set, 25-12. The final point came from a block by Audrey Muth and Courtney Williams.
After set two, Eagles head coach Heather Pavlik had a quick interview with the ESPN commentators. When asked if the set one loss released any pressure, Pavlik noted, "Sometimes this group just needs to be reminded to play the game and not get too caught up in anything else."
Juniata was certainly "playing the game" in set three, which was another closely contested affair with several long rallies. The teams traded points early, and neither team was able to establish more than a two point lead. Juniata broke that barrier first at 11-8, where La Verne then won six out of the next eight points to take a 13-14 lead. Juniata responded promptly with a 4-0 run to establish a crucial three point lead. La Verne did not make it easy, but the Eagles were able to pull away late, winning the set 25-20. Kennedy Christy was credited with the kill on set point.
The Eagles were cruising early in set four, jumping out to a 10-2 lead. From there, La Verne began to find ways to score, but the Juniata lead stayed about the same. At 17-9, though, the Leopards went on a 4-0 run and brought the game to within four points. After the Eagles won four out of the following five points, La Verne responded again to make it a four-point game at 21-17. At 24-19, the lead seemed insurmountable, as La Verne would have to win six consecutive points to force a fifth set. Unexpectedly, the Leopards won five consecutive points to tie the game 24-24. The set was there for the taking, and the Eagles took it. With clutch kills first from Muth and then from Williams, the Eagles won the set 26-24.
Mackenzie Coley led the way as she tied a career-high 24 kills (.417) and three total blocks, while Christy contributed a match and career-high 25 digs. Olivia Foley had a match-high 54 assists.
Juniata advances to the NCAA Final Four for the 30th time in program history and for the fourth consecutive year.
The Eagles will face Hope University, whom they bested earlier this season 3-1 (22-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-20) tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.
