Sept. 6, 2009

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POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist volleyball concluded a perfect weekend Sunday afternoon, sweeping Bryant 3-0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-21) at the McCann Center to win the 2009 Volley In The Valley Tournament title. The Red Foxes went 3-0 in the weekend tournament, holding each opponent under .100 hitting. Senior outside hitter Alexandra Schultze (Austin, Texas) was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after leading the Red Foxes with seven kills against the Bulldogs. Lindsey Schmid (Austin, Texas), and Leeann Harridsleff (Simi Valley, Calif.) were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Marist (5-2) dominated the opening set, hitting .348 and holding Bryant to a .111 mark. Libero Emily Brosky (Whitehall, Pa.) opened the match with back-to-back service aces, part of a 5-0 run for the Red Foxes. Marist pushed the lead to six at 9-3 on a Schmid kill. Ahead 18-13, the Red Foxes scored four straight points off the serve of Stephanie Robinett (Sugar Land, Texas) to go ahead 22-13. Marist took the last three points of the set on a Harridsleff kill and consecutive aces from Schmid to win the set 25-14.

The second set started out exactly like the first, with the Red Foxes winning the first five points. After a Schmid kill broke Bryant's serve to start the set, freshman setter Hanna Stoiberg (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) hit four straight service aces to give Marist the five point lead. Bryant got as close as two at 12-10, getting points on a Jazmin Stoner kill and a block by Julie Geonnotti and Maria Scocca. The Red Foxes got the lead back up to five, 15-10, on a Stoiberg ace and a kill by Katie Estes (Saugus, Calif.). Bryant made a late push to get back into the set, getting within three at 22-19 on an Emily Kaup kill. Marist, however, would go on to take the next three points to win the set 25-19.

Bryant (1-5) came out strong in the third set, taking the first six points on four Scocca kills. Marist battled back and got within two at 8-6 on a back-to-back Schmid kills. Bryant led for a majority of the set, going ahead 16-13 on another Scocca kill. The Red Foxes made their move on the next point. A Schultze kill made the score 16-14, after which Marist went on a 5-0 run capped by a Lindsey O'Dell (Kingwood, Texas) kill to take a 19-16 lead. Marist extended the lead to five at 22-17 on a kill by Kayla Burton (Kissimmee, Fla.). Ahead 23-21, the Red Foxes closed out the set and the match on a Foss kill and a block by Stoiberg and Burton.

The win is Marist's fifth in a row this season. Schmid finished the match with six kills, six aces, and four blocks. Foss and Allie Burke (Alpharetta, Ga.) each had five kills with Foss adding nine digs. Stoiberg finished the match with a career-high 13 assists and five aces. Scocca led Bryant with seven kills and five blocks.

Marist goes on the road for its next match on Wednesday. The Red Foxes will take on Army at West Point. First serve is at 7 p.m.

2009 Volley In The Valley All-Tournament Team

Lauren Fletcher, Providence
Heidi Kamp, Bucknell
Kaitlin Segal, Bucknell
Maria Scocca, Bryant
Leeann Harridsleff, Marist
Joanna Foss, Marist
Lindsey Schmid, Marist

MVP - Alexandra Schultze, Marist