RADNOR, Pa. – The Cabrini volleyball team completed its second three-peat in the last seven seasons, as the Cavaliers topped Neumann University 3-0 tonight at Nerney Field House to claim the program's sixth Colonial States Athletic Conference title.
The 25-18, 26-24, 25-16 triumph improved the Blue and White to 25-9, the third consecutive season the club has recorded 25 wins.
With the victory, the Cavaliers earn the league's automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Cabrini must wait until Monday to learn their NCAA future, as
NCAA.com will broadcast the Selection Show at 11 a.m.
Junior
Kelly Guarino earned Most Valuable Player honors after recording a match high 24 digs and three service aces.
Four Cavaliers scored at least six kills in the win, led by sophomore
Anne-Marie Jones with nine, one more than senior
Jen Grenauer. Sophomore
Nicole Sokolovich and junior
Christine Ingargiola added six each.
Senior
Cassidy Koenig directed the Cabrini attack, scoring a double-double with 30 assists at 10 digs.
Sokolovich added 15 digs, while freshman
Ashley Shannon tallied 12 and Jones 11. Ingargiola also posted four total blocks, including a pair of solo stops.
From the outset, it appeared as this would be another epic Cabrini-Neumann championship match, as the opening rally was one of the longest of the year. The score remained tight until Cabrini broke a 16-16 tie with three consecutive points. That was the cushion Cabrini needed, as it took the opening set 25-18.
The Knights looked to even the match, as it built a 12-8 lead in the second. The clubs alternated short runs, as each created slim leads. The final minutes of the set saw the frame tied at 22, 23 and 24 before Cabrini scored the final two points of the set to take a 2-0 lead.
The Cavaliers were determined to end the match in three sets, after the Blue and White saw its 2-0 lead disappear in its 3-2 regular season win over the Knights.
Cabrini scored the first three points of the set and never looked back. The club extended its lead to 10-3 and never allowed Neumann to come within seven points through the rest of the set.
Freshman Rachael Hoffman led Neumann (16-20) with 12 kills, while senior Anna Waltz posted 15 digs.
