(Posted October 21, 2006)

Juniata 3, Rutgers-Newark 0 Juniata 3, Franklin & Marshall 0 HUNTINGDON, Pa. - The Juniata College women\'s volleyball team left little doubt that its spot at the top of the NCAA Mid-Atlantic regional rankings is deserved as Juniata swept a pair of regional foes to complete the two-day Juniata Invitational with a 3-0 record. The Eagles downed Rutgers-Newark 3-0 in the opener, and then closed the tournament by topping Franklin & Marshall 3-0. Juniata improved to 30-1 with the two victories. Juniata used some different players in the opening match of the day but the lineup was effective as the Eagles topped the Scarlet Raiders 30-15, 31-29, 30-11. Michelle Morchesky (Hempfield/Greensburg) led the Juniata offense as she pounded out 13 kills and hit an impressive .565 over the three games. Outside hitters Mariel Little (Walled Lake Central/Commerce,Mich.) and Brittany Carr (Titusville/Titusville) also registered double digit kills as they each contributed 12 kills apiece. On the defensive side Meghan Sollenberger (Cumberland Valley/Mechanicsburg) brought up 14 digs to go along with her three service aces. Cassie Dickman (Unionville/Kennet Square), Molly Sollenberger (Cumberland Valley/Mechanicsburg), and Beth Kozak (Huntingdon/Huntingdon) also served up three aces each. Kozak also dished out 41 assists on the match. In the second match of the day Juniata got off to fast starts in all three games to top Franklin & Marshall by scores of 30-21, 30-17, 30-26. Stephanie Kines(Towson/Towson,Md.) looked fresh after not playing in the first match of the day as she led all attackerss racking up 15 kills and hitting an impressive .600. Rachael Schatz(West Perry/Ellitosburg), Amber Thomas(Conestoga Valley/Ephrata) and Erin Albert (Philipsburg-Osceola/Philipsburg) each added nine kills for the balanced Juniata attack. Defensively Megan Sollenberger again led the Eagles defense for the second consecutive match digging 16 balls. Guiding the Blue and Goldâ??s offense was Kozak who upped her assist total from the opening match, dishing out 47 assists in match two. Juniata will complete its conference regular-season play on Tuesday as the Eagles travel to take on Elizabethtown. ###

Our readers respond...

Be the first to provide a response.

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