(Posted September 22, 2006)

Juniata 3, Gallaudet 1 Juniata 3, Catholic 1 SALISBURY, Md. ? The Juniata College women?s volleyball team got another look at some of its foes within the Mid-Atlantic Region Friday evening, and after a bit of a slow start the Eagles demonstrated they are still the team to beat in the region as Juniata earned a 3-1 win over Gallaudet and a 3-1 win over Catholic on the opening night of the Salisbury Invitational. Juniata ran its record to 15-0 with the victories. Juniata dropped game one to Gallaudet 30-27 but then seized control in the next three games posting wins by scores of 30-18, 30-15, 30-17. The Eagles used a balanced offensive attack in the match as three players reached double figures in kills. Amber Thomas (Conestoga Valley/Ephrata) led the team with 17 finishes, while Rachael Schatz (West Perry/Elliotsburg) and Erin Albert (Philipsburg-Osceola/Philipsburg) added 14 and 11 respectively. Thomas added 16 digs defensive for Juniata while Megan Sollenberger (Cumberland Valley/Mechanicsburg) paced the team with 19. Beth Kozak (Huntingdon/Huntingdon) passed out 48 assists in the contest, while also producing 17 digs. Paige Johnston (Hempfield/Lancaster) added eight kills and seven digs for the Eagles. In the second match of the night Juniata used a dominant service game to sweep past Catholic 30-21, 30-19, 30-17. Juniata finished with 18 serve aces in the match, the most the Eagles have had in any match this season. Jessica Ritchey (Greencastle-Antrim/Greencastle) and Aly Pompeani (Hopewell/Aliquippa) each finished with five aces, while Kozak and Cassie Dickman (Unionville/Kennet Square) added four and three respectively. Offensively freshman Megan Lamens (Berlin Brothersvalley/Schellsburg) reached double figures for the first time in her career with 11 kills. Pompeani and Brittany Carr (Titusville/Titusville) each added nine kills for the Blue and Gold, with Dickman contributing seven. Kozak had 30 assists to lead the Juniata offense in the win while also bringing up five digs. Sollenberger was again tops in digs with 17 in the match, while Pompeani added seven. Juniata will complete action at the two-day tournament on Saturday as the Eagles face Richard Stockton and host Salisbury. ###

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