VIDEO: HENDRICKS ENDS GAME ONE
VIDEO: POWERS SENDS UMW TO QUARTERS
Freshman Savannah Powers scored a team-high 13 kills en route to Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors, as the University of Mary Washingotn volleyball team defeated Juniata College, 3-1, on Sunday at Ron Rosner Arena in the regional final of the NCAA Division III women's tournament in Fredericksburg, Va. With the victory, the Eagles improve to 30-3 on the season, and advance to the national quarterfinals on Thursday to face Washington (Mo.) University in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The Eagles jumped ahead in the first game, 6-3, and extended the early lead to 11-6 after three straight points, with one kill and one ace coming from Powers. The teams traded points through the middle of the game, with the Eagles holding a 21-16 lead. Juniata then went on a run to tie the score at 23-23, before a service error and a kill from junior Rachel Hendricks gave UMW the 25-23 win.
In the second, UMW again jumped in front early, leading 4-2, before Juniata responded to tie the score, and from there, the lead stayed put at one in either direction until a UMW surge that saw five straight points up their advantage to 11-7. The hosts kept Juniata at bay for the rest of the way, en route to a 25-22 victory.
In the third, the veteran Juniata squad responded, jumping out to a 6-0 lead and never looking back in a 25-18 win. In the fourth UMW, responded back, scoring five straight after dropping the first two points, and never trailed again. The key was a 5-0 run to up the advantage to 20-13, led by kills from Leslie Walters and Powers.
The lead remained at six until match point, and a Hendricks kill clinched UMW's first trip to a volleyball national quarterfinal in program history.
Powers had 13 kills in 26 attempts, added seven digs, and three aces. Olson and Dunow were also selected to the all-tournament team, as Olson posted 35 assists and 10 digs, while Dunow scored nine kills and added seven digs.