Volleyball Southern Conference

SoCon Volleyball Results, Saturday, Sept. 20

#5 Georgia Tech 3, Western Carolina 0
#24 Wisconsin 3, Western Carolina 0

Atlanta, Ga. - Jennifer Randall recorded a career-high 7 kills, hit .400 and had a team high nine digs as the No.5 Georgia Tech volleyball team swept Western Carolina 3-0 (30-17, 30-21, 30-20) in the Georgia Tech Invitational. With the loss, the Catamounts drop to 7-5, while the Jackets improve to 9-0.

Tech used a steady offense to defeat the Catamounts, posting a .345 hitting percentage while holding Western Carolina to a .033 percentage. Lauren Sauer led the way with a match-high 13 kills while Alexandra Preiss recorded 10 kills (.474 percentage). Eveland paced the offense, recording 28 assists in games one and three while Lindsey Laband added 13 assists in the second game along with two block assists.

Sara Komosinski and Layne Stoetzel each had eight kills in the match to lead the Catamounts while Ellie Talbot chipped in a team-high nine digs. Stoetzel led the team with a .375 hitting percentage and Robyn Everly tallied two aces in the match.

Atlanta, Ga. - The Western Carolina volleyball team fought hard to stay alive, but lost in the end to #24 Wisconsin, 15-30, 17-30, 22-30. The match ended their stay at the Georgia Tech Invitational. The Catamounts came away with three losses and now stand at 7-6 overall.

Senior Sara Komosinski led the Cats with eight kills on 24 attacks. She added two aces, four digs and three blocks in the match and led the team with 12 total points. SoCon Player of the Week Shari Harder led Western with nine digs, while dishing out 20 assists.

The Badgers were led by Lisa Zukowski with 11 kills and Jill Odenthal who posted 10 kills and only one error on 21 attacks for a .429 hitting percentage. Zukowski also led the team defensively with 11 digs, while Maria Carlini posted a team-high seven block assists.

The Catamounts begin their Southern Conference schedule on the road as they face Furman on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 7 pm in Greenville, S.C.




Elon 3, Mercer 1

In the first match of the day, Elon rebounded from its Friday night loss to Auburn to defeat Mercer, 3-1 (30-20, 24-30, 30-20, 30-23). Juliena Gigon and Emily Hayes each had 13 kills for Elon while Ashley Ruckert added 12. Mercer's Katie Plummer led all players with 18 kills.

The Tigers will play their final non-conference game at 7 p.m. tonight in the tournament finale, facing Mercer. Elon and Lipscomb will square off at 5 p.m.

Elon defeated Lipscomb, 3-0 (30-22, 30-21, 30-23), in the first match of the evening session. Emily Hayes had 13 kills while Ruckert had 10 kills for Elon. Kate Hart added 35 assists and 12 digs for the Phoenix. Peck led all players with 19 kills.

The Tigers attention now turns to the Southeastern Conference as the Tigers travel to Georgia on Friday, Sept. 26 and No. 3-ranked Florida on Sunday, Sept. 28.


Illinois-Chicago 3, East Tennessee State 1
East Tennessee State 3, Charleston Southern 2

Clemson, S.C. (Sept. 20, 2003) - East Tennessee State dropped its first match of the day to Illinois-Chicago, 3-1, but rebounded with a strong 3-2 victory over Charleston Southern Saturday at the 2003 Clemson Invitational, as a number of ETSU players enjoyed career days.

"We didn't back down in that last match, and we had to fight for every point," said first-year head coach Lindsey Devine. "I hope that this victory will build some confidence in our team and that it shows we are moving forward."
Freshman Kelsey Sherich (Ogallala, Neb.) was named to the all-tournament team after leading the squad with 16 kills against the Flames and a career-high 19 kills versus Charleston Southern

Also notching career bests for the Buccaneers in the match against Charleston Southern were sophomore setter Kristi Robinson (Knoxville, Tenn.) who served up 70 assists -- just two assists shy a school record -- and sophomore Sara Scandiffio (Purcellville, Va.), who tallied 16 digs in the contest.

ETSU (2-11 overall) will try to pick up its first Southern Conference win of the season after the Bucs lost their season opener to Chattanooga last Wednesday. The squad will be back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 23, when the Buccaneers travel to Boone, N.C. to square off against Appalachian State. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.


Wisconsin-Green Bay 3, UNC Greensboro 0
Winthrop 3, UNC Greensboro 0

Greensboro, NC - In day two of action from the 2003 UNCG Courtyard by Marriott Volleyball Invitational, the UNC Greensboro Spartans were defeated by both Wisconsin-Green Bay and Winthrop, 3-0, Saturday afternoon in Fleming Gym. The tournament served as the last tune-up for the Spartans before opening Southern Conference play Tuesday night at Elon..

In the final match of the tournament, UNCG dropped a hard fought 3-0 decision to Winthrop. The Spartans opened an early 3-1 lead in game one following an ace by Hilary Overby. Winthrop answered to tie the match at 7-7 on a kill by Emily Heckl. The two teams then traded points until the Eagles went on a 6-0 run giving them a 20-14 advantage. LaJean Morrow closed the gap to 23-20, but it was not enough to pull past Winthrop as the Eagles took the game, 30-23.

Game two opened much like the match started with the two teams trading points. A kill by Overby propelled the Spartans to a slim 13-10 lead. The Eagles retook the lead at 14-13, but the Spartans regrouped to tie the score at 18-18 on a Lauren Richards ace. Winthrop then went on a 4-0 run en route to the 30-22 win.

Facing elimination in game three UNCG fell behind early 7-3 after a service ace by Winthrop?s Erin Gjernes. UNCG, however, rallied to close the gap to 8-7 following a kill by LaJean Morrow. Winthrop managed to extend their lead to 17-12 on a kill by Tori Grafeman before taking the game, 30-20.

Morrow led UNCG with 10 kills and three digs, while Overby finished with 10 digs and eight kills. The duo of Mary Hock and Tori Grafeman paced the Eagles with 11 kills apiece.
In earlier action, UNCG fell to Wisconsin-Green Bay, 3-0. The Phoenix opened the match with a hot hand and a .439 hitting percentage in game one. Despite the strong hitting by their opponents, UNCG managed to stay close behind a stellar defensive effort from Kim Dayton and a .243 hitting percentage of their own. The Spartans pulled to within four points, 20-16, following a kill by Lauren Richards, but the Phoenix extended their lead and took the game, 30-23. Wisconsin-Green Bay then took games two and three with scores of 30-20 and 30-15, respectively.

LaJean Morrow tallied eight kills to lead the Spartans offensively. The tandem of Hilary Overby and Lauren Richards chipped in with six kills each. Jessie Theys recorded a match-high 17 kills for the Phoenix, while Janelle Tomlinson recorded a double-double with 16 kills and 15 digs.

All-Tournament Team:
Tori Grafeman, Winthrop
Mary Hock, Winthrop
Ana Paula Ferreira, Georgia State
Laura Sidorowicz, Tennessee Tech
LaJean Morrow, UNCG
Defensive Player of the Tournament:
Sarah Billingsly, Winthrop
Tournament MVP:
Janelle Tomlinson, Wisconsin-Green Bay


Georgia 3, Furman 0
Florida A&M 3, Furman 0

ATHENS, Georgia -- The Furman volleyball team fell to 5-9 on the season Saturday with a pair of 3-0 losses to the University of Georgia and
Florida A&M.

The Bulldogs of UGA topped the Lady Paladins 30-22, 30-20, 30-28, and outhit Furman .473 to .289. Amber Montague, a senior from Plano, Texas, led the Lady Paladin attack with 11 kills and .360 hitting percentage, while freshman Whitney Purser added nine kills on the night. Montague and
freshman Liz Hilliker also topped Furman with five digs each, while Fredrickson's two blocks paced the team.

Against Florida A&M, the Lady Paladins scored just 29 kills, with Hilliker, Montague, and Ally Hock each totaling six. Hilliker also topped
Furman's digs total, with 10, while sophomore middle hitter Caitlin White managed five blocks. FAMU's offensive attack was too much, however, and
Adriana Kostadinova totaled 21 kills in the 30-13, 30-24, 30-14 decision.

Furman returns home for the first time since Sept. 6 this Tuesday night, in a 7 p.m. match against Western Carolina.
UGA def. FUR 30-22, 30-20, 30-28
FAMU def. FUR 30-13, 30-24, 30-14


Memphis 3, Wofford 0
Birmingham Southern 3, Wofford 0

On the second and final day of competition at the Birmingham-Southern Tournament, the Wofford volleyball team suffered 3-0 losses to Memphis
and Birmingham-Southern.

In the match versus Memphis, junior outside hitter Andrea Duke was the lone offensive threat for the Lady Terriers, as she posted 15 kills, 49
total attacks, 17.0 points to go along with nine digs. Sophomore setter Rhea deJesus recorded 19 of the team's 23 assists, as Wofford dropped
the three games, 30-23, 30-19, 30-11.

The nightcap featured the Lady Terriers battling the host Panthers. Wofford kept the scores closer, 30-22, 30-27, 30-26, but could not
prevail. Duke again paced all players with 16 kills, 44 total attacks, 20.5 points and led Wofford with 11 digs. Junior middle blocker Katie
Laser (11.5), sophomore middle blocker Angela Berry (10.0) and freshman outside hitter Megan Propst (10.0) also notched double figures in
points, while deJesus finished with a match high 38 assists.

The Lady Terriers fall to 4-8 on the season with the two defeats and will next face new Southern Conference rival Elon, Friday night in Burlington, N.C.


Davidson 3, High Point 1
Virginia 3, Davidson 0

DAVIDSON, N.C. - Tournament MVP Alexis Geocaris paced Virginia with 13 kills, a .440 attack percentage and three blocks in the Cavaliers' 30-20, 30-25, 30-15 win over the Davidson volleyball team in the 2003 National Invitational championship match Saturday evening. Virginia went 4-0 in the two-day tournament to remain undefeated (16-0) for the season.

Both Virginia and Davidson were 3-0 heading into the final match of the tournament, but the Cavaliers quickly got out of the gates against the host Wildcats, taking 12 of the first 16 points in the contest. The Wahoos cruised the rest of the way in the first game, hitting .409 on 19 kills and just one error.

Davidson (7-7) held its ground early in the second game and thanks to a kill by senior Latisha Chapman, would take the lead at 11-10. However, Virginia responded with kills in three of the next four points to go ahead for good in game two. In the third game, the Wildcats raced out to leads of 6-0 and 8-1 before Virginia turned up the defensive pressure. The Cavaliers held Davidson to only seven points in the rest of the game and a negative attack percentage to capture the title.

Earlier in the day, Virginia took out Gardner-Webb (5-12) in three games, 30-18, 30-19 and 30-11. Geocaris and Paige Davis each finished with an attack percentage over .600 for the Cavaliers while Whitney Ashcroft notched a match-high 15 digs.

In Davidson's morning match, the Wildcats fought off a first-game setback to down High Point (4-13), 22-30, 30-21, 31-29 and 30-26. For the second time this season, Chapman recorded 30 kills in a match as the middle blocker finished with exactly 30 in Davidson's victory. Game three proved to be the turning point of the match. The Wildcats fought off two game points on kills by freshmen Jenna Dykstra and Jenny Mills while clawing back for a 31-29 triumph.

In other action, Boise State (4-10) picked up two wins Saturday to finish 2-2 in the National Invitational. The Broncos' Cameron Flunder put up 29 kills and a .533 attack percentage in the two matches to earn all-tournament honors.
Davidson is right back in action this Tuesday night, Sept. 23, when the Wildcats travel down I-77 to take on cross-county rival Charlotte. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.

2003 National Invitational All-Tournament Team
Kamarsha Ryan, OH, High Point
Cameron Flunder, MB, Boise State
Latisha Chapman, MB, Davidson
Tamara Gallen, Lib, Davidson
Lindsay Osco, OH, Virginia
Alexis Geocaris, MB, Virginia - MVP


Jacksonville State 3, Georgia Southern 2

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.- Jacksonville State won its' first come-from-behind match of the season Saturday over Georgia Southern, 3-2 in the final day of the Crimson Tide Volleyball Invitational at the Cave. JSU fell behind two games to none before winning three straight to claim the match 28-30, 19-30, 30-25, 33-31, 15-10.

The Eagles, who fall to 5-8 on the season, were led by Jessica Lippi, who had a total of 25 assists on the day. Susan Winkelman had a team high 29 assists. Lippi's efforts earned her a spot on the All-Tournament squad.

Jacksonville State was led by Christina Cary, who had 17 kills in the win, with no hitting errors. Jessica Stark added 16 kills, 12 digs and five service aces.

Georgia Southern hit a combined .281 in the match, while Jacksonville State (8-3) hit .244.
The Eagles return for their first home match on Tuesday, September 23, as they face The Citadel in the first Southern Conference match of the year. Match time is set for 7:00 p.m.

All-Tournament
MVP - Erin Heffner (Alabama)
Jennifer Bibber (Alabama)
Julie Farley (Alabama)
Christina Cary (Jacksonville State)
Kisha West (Jacksonville State)
Karen Boyd (UAB)
Jessica Lippi (Georgia Southern)