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NYU Volleyball Advances to NCAA Elite Eight
The New York University women's volleyball team defeated Stevens
Institute of Technology in five sets to advance to the Elite
Eight of the NCAA Division III
Championship. The Violets' 3-2 victory on Sunday in
the finals of the New York Regional Championship at the
Coles Sports Center propels NYU back to the Elite Eight
for the first time since 2005.
NYU (38-5), the #1 seed in the region, and the #2-seeded
Ducks (34-6) alternated set victories heading into
the decisive fifth. While the Violets posted
comfortable wins in sets #1 (25-12) and #3 (25-10), Stevens Tech's
victories in sets #2 (25-23) and #4 (25-22) were much
closer.
After being caught at 2-2, NYU was able to ease the pressure by
getting out to a 4-1 lead en route to a match-clinching 15-9
fifth-set victory.
"We're good at battling," said NYU interim head coach Chris
Pinto. "It seems like we always play better
with the pressure on."
There wasn't much pressure in the first set, as NYU scored the
first two points and never trailed.
The second set was a different story, as Stevens Tech raced
to a 6-1 advantage. However, the Violets kept
pecking away and eventually took a six point lead,
22-16. But, the Ducks showed their resiliency and scored
the next five points. Then, after a kill by the Violets'
Jessica
Prepolec, the Ducks scored the final four points to
take the set.
NYU rebounded well from that loss, scoring the first three points
of the third set and again never trailing.
Although the Violets again scored the first three points of the
next set, they could not hold the lead. Five ties ensued
before Sara Budar's kill gave the Ducks the lead for good at
21-20 and Michelle Plotzker's kill ended it.
It was all coming down to a fifth and final set.
"Volleyball is a game of tides," Pinto said. "You have
to take it one play at a time."
After taking that early 4-1 lead in set
five, NYU never trailed. Leading 4-2, the Violets
scored 10 of the next 14 points to take command of the
set. The Ducks' final push brought them to within 14-9,
but Beth
Fionda's kill ended the match and advanced NYU into the
Elite Eight.
"At the beginning of the year, our goal was to make the Elite
Eight," Pinto revealed. "Now it's an even playing field."
Kendyl
Dunn had a match-high 19 kills for the Violets, while
Sally
Downs added 12. Mina
Baban's 48 assists were a match high, while Alexis
Schwartz led all players 14 digs.
Erin
McLaughlin, who had eight kills, eight digs and a
match-high seven service aces, was named Tournament Most
Outstanding Player.
Holder had a team-high 12 kills for the Ducks, while Maggie
Majcher had 10. Budar led Stevens Tech with 36 assists
and Julia Reilly was best with 14 digs.
Dunn and Baban were each named to the Region All-Tournament Team,
as were Majcher and Holder.
NYU will face a familiar foe in its Elite Eight match-up, fellow
University Athletic Association rival Washington
University. The Violets and host Bears have already met twice
this season, with each team winning one match.
