(Posted September 17, 2005)

JUNIATA VOLLEYBALL REBOUNDS FROM LOSS WITH TWO VICTORIES
Juniata 3, La Verne 1
Juniata 3, Trinity 1

St. Louis, Mo. ? One day after suffering its first loss of the 2005 season, the Juniata College women?s volleyball team rebounded quite nicely with a pair of wins over ranked opponents as Juniata topped 13th-rankedTrinity University (Tx.) 3-1 and eighth-ranked University of La Verne (Ca.) 3-1 on the second day of competition at the Third Annual Teri Clemens Invitational. Juniata, which entered the tournament ranked second in Division III improved to 7-1 with the wins.

Juniata finished second at the two-day tournament, and junior outside hitter Rachael Schatz (West Perry/Elliotsburg) and freshman outside hitter Amber Thomas (Conestoga Valley/Ephrata) were both named to the All-Tournament Team.

The Eagles opened day two with a four-game triumph over La Verne as they topped the Leopards 30-26, 30-22, 27-30, 30-25. Stephanie Kines (Towson/Towson, Md.) paced Juniata?s offense with 20 kills, while also recording three blocks. Schatz chipped in 18 finishes while Thomas added 17.

Tara McMinn (Huntingdon/Huntingdon) contributed defensively and in the service game as she posted 19 digs to go with three aces. Mariel Little (Walled Lake Central/Commerce, Mi.) brought up 17 digs and Thomas contributed 15.

Katie Laucks (West York/York) was the Juniata leader in blocks with four in the match.

The Eagles then earned a hard-fought victory over Trinity as the Eagles outlasted the Tigers 30-28, 23-30, 30-28, 32-30.

It was Kines again leading the offensive assault for Juniata as she knocked out a season-high 22 kills. The two 20-plus kill efforts for Kines marked the first times this season she?s had at least 20 kills.

Thomas contributed 16 kills for the Eagles while Laucks and Schatz added 13 and 12 respectively.

McMinn was once again solid defensively as she posted 20 digs to go with two serve aces. Jessica Ritchey (Greencastle-Antrim/Greencastle), who handled the setting duties for Juniata against Trinity, also provided 16 digs, while Abby Leonard (Shade/Johnstown) produced 13.

Laucks added to her 13 kills with four blocks and five serve aces. Schatz provided another three blocks for the Eagles on the match.

Juniata returns to action on Wednesday with its first conference match as the Eagles welcome Susquehanna to Huntingdon.

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.