Nov. 23, 2009

Box Score

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Marist volleyball team made its first appearance in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament's championship match Monday night at the Koessler Athletic Center in Buffalo, but came up short against the Niagara Purple Eagles. Niagara swept Marist 25-20, 27-25, and 27-25 to win its first MAAC Championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament.

Alexandra Schultze (Austin, Texas) and Emily Brosky (Whitehall, Pa.) led Marist with 12 digs. Senior setter Dawn Jan (Belleville, N.J.) had a double-double of 30 assists and 10 digs. Jan and Harridsleff were both named to the MAAC All-Tournament Team following the match.

Marist (18-13) controlled the first set early, taking a 4-2 lead on a kill and an ace from Lindsey Schmid (Austin, Texas). Niagara came back to tie the set at 5-5 on a block by Kathy Bibler and Shannon Ryan, as well as a Kari Honomichl kill. With the set tied at 6-6, the Purple Eagles went on a 3-0 run capped off by a Lisa Bilich ace to take a 9-6 lead. Niagara grew its lead to five at 13-8 with a Michelle James kill. Marist cut the Purple Eagles' lead to two at 13-11 following a Schmid kill and two Niagara errors. Niagara got its lead back up to five at 16-11 on a Hannah Hedrick kill. Marist got within three a couple times, but the Purple Eagles won the set 25-20 on a block by Ryan and Amanda Wilken.

Niagara (23-8) took an early 1-0 lead to start the second set, but Marist took over the set from there. The Red Foxes went on an 8-1 run highlighted by two Schmid aces and a block by Burton and Harridsleff to take an 8-2 lead. Marist led 12-6 when a Wilken kill sparked a 7-0 run to give Niagara a 13-12 lead. Two James aces capped off the Purple Eagles' run. The lead grew to three for Niagara, 16-13, on a Hedrick ace. Marist got within one at 17-16 on kills by Harridsleff and Joanna Foss (Northville, Mich.). Niagara led all the way until 23-21. Marist then got a Schultze kill and a Hanna Stoiberg (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) ace to tie the set at 24-23. Niagara had chances to take the set at 24-23 and 25-24 but were thwarted by Marist. After a Marist error gave Niagara a 26-25 lead, Bibler put down a kill to give the Purple Eagles the second set 27-25 and a 2-0 lead.

The Purple Eagles led for a majority of the third set, taking its largest lead at 12-7 on a Bibler kill. Niagara led 15-11 when a Harridsleff kill sparked a four-point run that tied the match at 15-15. The two teams then traded the next 16 points, playing to a 23-23 tie. Marist then had a set point at 24-23 after a Schultze kill, but a Red Foxes error on the next point tied the set at 24-24. Niagara then earned championship point at 25-24 on a block by James and Bibler. Burton then tied the set 25-25 with a kill. After a Marist error made the score 26-25, Bibler put down her sixth kill of the match to make the score 27-25 and give the Purple Eagles their first MAAC volleyball title.

Niagara hit .281 in the title match, holding Marist to a .231 hitting percentage. Marist held a 47-42 advantage in digs, but the Purple Eagles had a 6-4 edge in blocks. Hedrick, named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, and Wilken each had 10 kills for Niagara. James had 34 assists in the match, and she and Wilken were both named to the All-Tournament Team.

Marist ends the 2009 season with 18 wins against 13 losses.