#2S College of Charleston 3, #1S Furman 0
Championship Match Slideshow
GREENVILLE, S.C. - In a rematch of last season's championship, College of Charleston swept Furman 3-0 to claim the 2009 Southern Conference Volleyball Championship.
With the win, the Cougars claimed their league-leading sixth conference championship, which is their first since 2007. CofC's sweep in the final is the first 3-0 decision since the Cougars defeated Georgia Southern 3-0 in the 2002 championship.
College of Charleston snapped Furman's 19-game winning streak, which was a school record for the Paladins.
The Cougars were led by Ginny Phillips who tallied 16 kills and an attack percentage of .414. For her efforts, Phillips was named tournament MVP. All-tournament team selection Sarah Havel recorded nine kills. Cole Dawley, who was also named to the all-tournament team, added seven kills and hit .636, while Elyse Chubb posted eight kills. Dawley also notched 36 assists and 16 digs for CofC.
All-tournament selection Natalie Braun guided Furman with eight kills, hitting .231 and recording 13 digs. Chandler Ambrester also tallied eight kills, while Caroline Adams and Kelly Kirby had seven each. Kelsey Salava
College of Charleston took the first set by a score of 26-24. Furman had the lead for most of the set and built as much as a four-point advantage, but the Cougars battled back each time and forced seven ties altogether. CofC took the lead at 24-23 and had a chance to take the match, but an attack error by Katie Robinson tied it for the Paladins. The Cougars once again set up match point, this time on an attack error by Caroline Adams. CofC clinched the set on a service ace by Liza Price. The Paladins hit .209, while the Cougars hit .270. Both teams tallied 16 kills apiece. CofC posted four team blocks to Furman's one. Cole Dawley added 13 assists and 10 digs for College of Charleston.
The Cougars controlled the second set and won 25-18. CofC notched 17 kills, with seven coming from Ginny Phillips. Dawley matched her assist total from the first set with 13. Furman trailed by as many as six, but was able to cut it to four with a kill by Alexis Shaffer. With the score 22-18, College of Charleston responded with three-straight points to win the set. Kelly Kirby led the Paladins with four kills. The Cougars posted a .298 attack percentage to Furman's .167.
College of Charleston clinched the third and final set by a score of 25-22. The Cougars earned the first four points of the third set, but Furman got on the board with three-straight points of its own. One point proved to be as close as the Paladins could get as the Cougars held the advantage throughout the match. CofC earned match point at 24-22, but Furman answered with a kill by Kelly Kirby. A kill by Elyse Chubb clinched the set and the championship for CofC.
College of Charleston (18-12) closes out the season with a match against Winthrop on November 25. The Paladins finish the season 26-4, which marks their highest win total since 1996, when Furman also posted 26 victories.
With the victory, the Cougars earned the Southern Conference's automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament and will await the announcement of their opponent for the first round.
2009 All-Tournament Team
Maja Jechorek, Appalachian State
Sheriden Stangohr, Samford
Natalie Braun, Furman
Stephanie Smith, Furman
Sarah Havel, College of Charleston
Ginny Phillips, College of Charleston
Cole Dawley, College of Charleston
2009 Tournament MVP
Ginny Phillips, College of Charleston