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Coast Guard Wins NEWMAC Title
Story Courtesy of the USCGA Athletics Site
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.--(11/7/10)--Tournament Most Outstanding
player sophomore Lauren Bloch had 19 kills and 12 digs as
second-seeded Coast Guard upset top-seeded Springfield 3-1 to win
the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference
tournament championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division
III tournament.
Coast Guard, which won by game scores of (14-25, 25-17, 25-20,
25-21) improves to 29-5 overall and wins its second NEWMAC
tournament championship as the Bears won it in 2006, also beating
Springfield.
The Bears, who have won 18 of their last 19 matches, will find out
who and where they play when the NCAA releases the tournament
bracket on Monday morning at 11 a.m. The Pride, who were a perfect
13-0 at home this season, drop to 29-4 and will await word on an
at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Springfield is hosting the New
England regional beginning on Thursday.
Sophomore Catherine Walker was a huge presence in the championship
match with 15 kills while freshman Kelsey DePorto added 10 kills
for the champions.
Senior Jessica Anderson had 12 digs, sophomore Keriann Mason added
11 digs while sophomore Karen Matic had 10 digs and a match-high 54
assists for the Bears.
Junior Nicole Johnson and sophomore Rachel Cuthrell each had seven
kills in the win.
Springfield broke an early 6-6 tie with a 7-3 run to give the
Pride a 13-9 lead in the first set. Springfield then took control
of the opening set by scoring six of the next seven points for a
commanding 19-10 lead enroute to the 25-14 win.
Coast Guard began its comeback by jumping out a quick 4-1 lead in
set two before Springfield tied the set at 6-6. The Bears were
leading 12-11 and scored four straight, the final three served by
Anderson for a 16-11 advantage. The Bears maintained at least a
four point lead the rest of the way and won the second set
25-17.
The Bears led from start to finish in the third set. Coast Guard
led 15-13 and scored six of the next eight points for its largest
lead of the set at 21-15 before winning 25-20.
In the fourth set, Coast Guard scored four of five points for its
largest lead to that point 12-7. Coast Guard scored three straight
for a 20-13 lead before the Pride rallied scoring six of the next
eight to close to within 22-19. With Coast Guard leading 23-21,
DePorto had a kill and then followed with an ace on match point to
give the Bears the championship.
Springfield beat the Bears 3-1 during the regular season in New
London, it was Coast Guard's only NEWMAC loss of the season.
