NOVEMBER 16, 2002
BOB ZIADIE
KING’S VOLLEYBALL FALLS TO POWERFUL
JUNIATA
HUNTINGDON - The King’s College women’s
volleyball team saw its dream season come to end Saturday as the Lady
Monarchs dropped a 3-0 decision to powerful Juniata College in the NCAA
Division III National Tournament “Sweet 16” at the Mid-Atlantic
Regional championship match in Huntingdon.
Top-seeded Juniata, the fifth-ranked team
nationally in Division III, won by scores of 30-22, 30-21, 30-21, while
improving to 32-4 on the year. King’s, the second seeded squad completed
its best season ever and reached the Sweet 16 for the first time in school
history while concluding a school-record 39-2 campaign.
Jessica McVey topped King’s with 12 kills
and 13 digs. Faith O’Dell followed with 11 kills and 14 digs. Annie
German added nine kills while Stephanie Spencer chipped in with four
kills. Katie Baffone dished out 30 assists while Tara Holly contributed 13
digs.
Nikki Mueller led Juniata with 19 kills
while Erin Wisor added 11. Carlie Dale posted 46 assists for the Eagles.
King’s entered the matchup as a heavy
underdog to Juniata is making its 23rd straight NCAA tournament
appearance. Juniata has advanced to the national quarterfinals during each
of its 23 postseason showings and has appeared in the Division III
"Final Four" 18 times.
“We played out hearts out and we just
lost to a better team,” King’s coach Bernie Kachinko stated. “Juniata
is an outstanding squad and they were on the top of their game today but
we pushed them and gave it our best. I am very proud of this team and what
we accomplished and I give all the credit to the players for working hard
and committing themselves to the program. We had a great year and have
nothing to hang our heads about.”
