The University of Mary Washington volleyball team fell to Juniata College, 3-0, in the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament in Huntingdon, Pa. on Saturday evening. Junior Savannah Powers recorded her 1,000th career kill in the first set of the match. UMW concludes their season with a 21-12 overall record and a regular season CAC championship.
Juniata jumped out to a fast 3-0 start in the first set. After being down 5-2, UMW scored five straight points to take a 7-5 lead. Juniata kept the set tight and UMW held an 11-10 edge after a kill by Leslie Walters. From there, the Eagles scored five straight points to take a 16-10 lead that was capped by a kill from Tenley Hares. Juniata chipped away and got to within three, 19-16, after a kill by Powers. The Eagles of Juniata tied the game up at 20 on an attack error. The race to win five points was on, and Juniata outlasted UMW as they won the first set 25-22.
In the second set, Juniata again jumped out to an early lead and went up 5-1. UMW cut the Juniata lead to three, 8-5, after a service ace from Keri Gearhart. Juniata upped their lead to 13-6 after an attack error. Walters put down a kill to make the game 17-10. Juniata pushed their lead to 20-10 on a block. UMW worked their way back into the game as they went on a 5-1 run where Dunow put down a kill to make the game 21-15. A ball handling error from Juniata put UMW down five, 23-18, but then Juniata reeled off two straight points to take the second set 25-18.
Juniata started the third set as they did the other two, and took a 6-1 lead. UMW fought back though as they cut it to within two, 9-7, as Walters recorded two straight kills and then assisted a block with the help of Powers. A kill by Gearhart and a ball handling error by Juniata put the Eagles within one, 12-11. UMW tied the game up at 14 a piece on a kill by Gearhart. Hares and Harris teamed up for a block to keep the game even at 16-16. Juniata then went on a 5-0 run to take a 21-16 lead. Juniata then held on to win the third set 25-18.