RADNOR, PA – The Cabrini volleyball team continued its run atop the Colonial States Athletic Conference today, as it topped Neumann 3-1 to win its fifth consecutive CSAC championship.

With today's win, the Cavaliers improved to 29-6, tying the 2013 team for most wins in program history. Today's victory also marked the team's eighth title in 11 years under head coach Eric Schaefer.

By virtue of today's 20-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-19 win, the Blue and White has earned the CSAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which will begin next weekend. 

The Cavaliers will learn their tournament fates on Monday at 12:30, when the NCAA broadcasts its Selection Show on NCAA.com.

Junior Ashley Shannon was named Championship Match Most Valuable Player after pairing 31 assists and 15 digs and playing libero and setter.

Senior Anne-Marie Jones led the Cavaliers with 13 kills, while freshman Morgan Collito paired 10 kills and 11 digs. Freshman Steph Judkins matched Shannon with 15 digs, while junior Emily Shannon posted 14, one more than sophomore Kristen Bettermann.

Despite an early lead, Cabrini lost its momentum midway through the first set. The Knights took full advantage, turning an 8-8 tie into a 20-13 lead. An Anne-Marie Jones kill slowed the Neumann run and helped the Cavaliers pull within 20-17. The Blue and White got no closer, as Neumann built a one set to none lead.

The Cavaliers again built an early lead in the second set, but the Knights never allowed them to get too far away. Cabrini led by as many as four points several times in the frame, including with a seeming commanding 23-19 lead.

The Knights used a pair of service aces and a Cabrini attack error to even the score at 23, but a Neumann service error and an Ashley Shannon ace evened the match at one set apiece.

Cabrini used a 5-1 spurt midway through the third set to pull away from Neumann. An Anne-Marie Jones kill gave the Cavaliers a 16-9 lead. The Knights rallied back, pulling within 19-18, but the Cavaliers recorded six of the final seven points in the set, with senior Chelsea Jones' kill closing the frame.

Both clubs went back and forth in the fourth set, but with Cabrini leading 12-11, the Cavaliers ran off four quick points to take a 16-11 lead. The Knights tried to make a pair of late comebacks, cutting the Blue and White's lead to 18-16 and 21-19, but Cabrini was not to be stopped. The Cavaliers closed the match on a pair of Collito kills and a Bettermann service ace.

Sophomore Melanie Malseed led the Knights (16-22) with 22 kills and 12 digs, while classmate Rachel Cray added 40 assists, nine digs and six service aces.