Blocking Keys Christopher Newport in NCAA Division III Semifinal Sweep Over Carthage
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St. Louis, Mo., November 19, 2011 – The Christopher Newport University women’s volleyball team advanced to the NCAA Finals by defeating Carthage College in straight sets at the Field House on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis on Saturday afternoon.
The Captains (38-4) frustrated the Lady Reds the entire match, recording 12 team and three solo blocks and limiting Carthage to a hitting percentage of -0.023. Leading the way for CNU was junior Bailey Jensen, who recorded two solo and six assisted blocks.
With Carthage leading 14-13 in the first set, Christopher Newport got a kill from junior Cory Harris to spark a 12-0 run, as the Captains rolled to a 25-14 set victory.
CNU came out on fire to start the second set, taking their largest lead of the set at 13-6. Senior Drewann Pancratz set senior Cindy Cavanagh for a kill that started an 8-1 run as Carthage stormed back to tie the score at 14.
The two teams traded points back and forth until a ball handling error by Pancratz with Carthage up 22-21 gave service back to the Captains. CNU capitalized on two attack errors by the Lady Reds and held on for a 25-22 set victory.
Christopher Newport carried the momentum from their second set win into the third set, starting hot once again. The Captains led 11-4 before Carthage called their first timeout of the set and 15-6 at the official timeout. The Lady Reds never strung together more than two points in a row, and Christopher Newport won the third set 25-11.
Senior Jessie Heavenrich recorded 27 assists, and junior Abby Hogge added 21 digs for the Captains, who hit 0.216 for the match and 0.389 in the decisive third set. Harris had ten kills and zero attack errors, while Jensen added nine kills of her own.
For Carthage (34-7), junior Izzy Shaindlin had 18 digs, and Pancratz added 17 assists. Senior Michelle Madeja had 13 digs and ten kills, and Cavanagh has seven kills as well.
Christopher Newport will face the winner of the match between Wittenberg University and Eastern University at 5 p.m. Sunday in the WU Field House.