Providence, R.I. - The #5 seeded Keene State College Owls
defeated #4 seed Johnson & Wales University women's volleyball
team 3-1 in a quarterfinals match of the 2007 ECAC Division III
Championship on Wednesday evening.
Keene State took an early lead with 30-26 and 30-20 wins in the
first two games. Johnson & Wales cut the lead to 2-1 with
a 30-24 win in game three before the visiting Owls finished off the
evening with a 30-25 win in game four to take the 3-1 victory.
"I thought we were in control the entire match, said KSC Coach Bob
Weiner. "We did a good job defensively, especially
blocking. We made them think when they went up to put the
ball a way."
Keene State was led by sophomore Carly Newton (Centerville, Mass.)
who had 16 kills, four digs and three blocks while senior Kelly
Yankowski (Turners Falls, Mass.) had a double-double with 13 kills
and 15 digs. Sophomore Jordan Pokryfki (Wasila, Alaska)
notched 52 set assists in the victory for the Owls.
Sophomore Ashley Constantino (Marlton, N.J.) recorded a
double-double for Johnson & Wales with 14 kills and 15 digs
while junior Kristen Gawrys (Chicago, Ill.) also had a
double-double with 14 kills and a team high 22 digs for JWU.
Senior Audra Vaccari (Winstead, Conn.) added 45 set assists and
notched 15 digs and four kills in the setback for the Wildcats.
Keene State (25-10), which tied the program record for wins set
last season, advances to the semifinals of the ECAC Championship on
Saturday. Keene State will face top seed Brandeis which swept
Plymouth State 3-0 in its opening round match. The Judges
will host the ECAC tournament semifinals and finals on Saturday,
Nov. 10. The Judges will take on No. 5 seed Keene State at 11 a.m.,
with second-seeded U.S. Coast Guard Academy facing No. 3
Colby-Sawyer in the other semifinal at 1 p.m. The championship
match will take place at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
The Owls, making their second straight appearance in the ECAC
tournament, lost in the semifinals to Brandeis (3-0) last year.
Johnson & Wales finishes the 2007 campaign with a school record
27 victories and a 27-12 record.
