Eagles Place Five on All-Conference Team

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – No. 23 Juniata women's volleyball saw five Eagles named All-Landmark Conference on Wednesday.  The six-time league champs had two listed on first-team and three on second-team, respectively.

Sophomore Amelia Kepler (Kane, Pa./Kane Area) and junior Courtney Lydick (McKean, Pa./General McLane) picked up all-conference honors for the first time in their careers, being named first-team all-conference.

"Amelia has sort of come into her own this year and she was certainly the most dominant opposite in the conference, without question," said Juniata Head Coach Heather Pavlik.  " And Courtney just had a good year overall.  She has been hitting the ball well all year."

The pair accounted for nearly a third of the Eagles kills against Landmark opponents.  Lydick finished second on the team in total kills (276) with Kepler right behind her at 260.

Senior Kelsey Fuller (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion) was named to the second team, earning the fourth all-conference nod of her career.  The outside hitter led the team in kills (287) and was second in digs (402).

"Kelsey can do it all," said Pavlik.   "She has played through all kinds of injuries.  She has played different positions.  And I think that the consistency with being all-conference all four years speaks to that."

Joining Fuller on second team were junior Sarah McCarthy (Villa Park, Ill./Willowbrook) and sophomore Christine Sumner (Dublin, Ohio/Bishop Watterson).

McCarthy moved into the primary setter position for the Eagles as the season went on.

Pavlik acknowledged the switch in offense has allowed McCarthy to shine stating "she is in a 5-1 here now and is running the team very well."  She added, "I think Sarah is probably the best setter in the conference hands down, but probably didn't have the stats because we were in a 6-2 part of the year. But certainly, she has done a great job."

Sumner, who broke her finger during a match at the second conference round robin and still finished the weekend, was one of only two Eagles to earn conference player of the week honors during the season.

"I'm really proud of Chris," said Pavlik.  "Luckily we're getting her back and she's getting healthy, so this is a really nice honor for her."

Juniata earned a bid to the NCAA Division III tournament for the 32^nd consecutive time after winning their sixth consecutive Landmark Championship.  The Eagles will face Trinity (Tex.) in the first round of the South Regional this Friday, Nov. 9 at 12:30 p.m. in Newport News, Va.  The Regional is hosted by No. 5 Christopher Newport and includes No. 6 Emory, Salem, Randolph-Macon, Gallaudet and Washington & Lee.

Click here to view the complete all-conference team.

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