(Posted November 19, 2004)

Juniata 3, Emory 0

Huntingdon, Pa. ? The top-ranked Juniata College women?s volleyball team earned its 19th NCAA Division III semifinal berth on the strength of a 3-0 victory over fifth-ranked Emory University (Ga.) in an NCAA quarterfinal match in Huntingdon Friday night.

Juniata, which improved to 35-3 on the season, will play New York University in the national semifinals Friday November 26 at 8 pm (est.).

Emory ends it season with a record of 31-10 after reaching the quarterfinals in back-to-back seasons.

Juniata controlled the match with strong service and defense as they held Emory to just a .087 attack percentage for the night. Juniata attacked at a .297 clip and out-dug the visitors 46-34.

Juniata got out to a strong start in the first game. With game one even at eight, Juniata scored six of the next seven points to take a 14-9 edge. Katie Charles had a pair of kills for Juniata during the run. Emory would get no closer than five the remainder of the game as a late kill from Katie Laucks propelled Juniata to the 30-21 win.

Emory?s Katie Wildermuth served her team to an early 6-1 lead with a pair of aces. Juniata answered back with a 6-0 run sparked by the serving of Carli Dale to knot the game at nine. Juniata kept rolling after an Emory timeout with Stephanie Kines notching a pair of kills en route to a 14-11 Juniata edge. The run continued as Juniata moved ahead 21-13 with an ace Laucks capping the run. An emphatic kill from Erin Wisor sealed the 30-20 game-two win for Juniata

Game three was the tightest of the match as Emory continued to battle from deficits. A double block from Charles and Kines put Juniata in front 11-8. The lead would get as big as five, before Emory rallied behind two kills and two blocks from Monica Robbins made the score 20-18 in favor of Juniata. Another kill from Robbins cut the lead to 21-20. Juniata?s Lindsey Habel then took over down the stretch with a pair of kills, a double block with Kines and then an ace to extend Juniata?s lead to 28-24. Kines then finished the match with her match-high 12th kill, giving Juniata the win.

Kines paced Juniata with 12 kills and a .625 hitting percentage in the match and a team-best four blocks. Erin Wisor finished with nine kills, while Charles, Dale and Laucks all added seven finishes. Dale passed out 39 assists in the match, while Tara McMinn brought up 15 digs. Abby Leonard notched three aces for Juniata.

Emory was led by Robbins who posted nine finishes and a .533 attack percentage while leading the team with three blocks. Kristin Anderson added eight finishes. Catherine Zidow dished out 28 assists for Emory and matched Robbins with three blocks. Senior Katie Wildermuth paced the team with eight digs and three aces.

The NCAA Division III semifinals will begin November 26 at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, Minn.

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