(Posted November 12, 2002)

Huntingdon, PA - The Juniata College women's volleyball team (28-4) will host one of the Commonwealth Conference semifinals on Wednesday at 7 pm. in Memorial Gymnasium. The Eagles will entertain Lebanon Valley (28-10) and at stake will be an automatic bid into the 2000 NCAA Division III playoffs.

The Eagles, ranked third in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Poll and first in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region ratings, have won the past 21 conference crowns. Juniata also has a conference winning streak that has now reached 252 consecutive matches, a span that dates back to the 1981 season.

Juniata will host Lebanon Valley in one semi-final, while third seed Messiah (24-9) will travel to play the Greyhounds of Moravian (23-9) in the other semi-final. The winners will play at the site of the higher-seeded team on Saturday.

The Eagles defeated Lebanon Valley 30-16, 30-23, 30-28 in their previous meeting this season. Juniata is 10-0 in matches played on their home floor this season. If the Eagles top Lebanon Valley, as the first seed, the Eagles would also host the Championship match.

Juniata is led offensively be senior Niki Mueller (Bishop Guilfoyle/Altoona). The senior leads the team in kills with 392 and also paces the blockers with 91 total blocks this season. Erin Wisor (Altoona/Altoona) has also been solid for the Eagles, notching 283 kills along with 264 digs. Setter Carli Dale (Cochranton/Cochranton) is averaging 13.18 assists per contest, while adding 275 digs. Johanna Holtan (Fargo North/Fargo, N.D.) leads the team in digs from her Libero position. Holtan's total of 562 digs is already the third-highest total in school history.

The Commonwealth Conference admission prices for the match will be: $4 for adults, $3 for senior citizens, $2 for students (with ID) and children, while pre-school children (under 6) accompanied by an adult will be admitted free.

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