Eagles Defeat Blue Jays 3-1; Advance to NCAA Regional Final

FREDERICKSBURG, Va.- Juniata women's volleyball played a tough Johns Hopkins squad on Saturday afternoon in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Mary Washington's Ron Rosner Arena. The Eagles were able to defeat the Blue Jays 3-1 (26-24, 21-15, 25-15, 25-21) and advance to tomorrow afternoon's Regional Final for the second straight season.

Three Eagles reached double figures in kills led by Megan Moroney (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) who had a career-best 21 kills on 32 attacks for a hitting percentage of .531. Mar-Jana Phillips (Carson, Calif./Rolling Hills Prep) added 13 kills on 25 attacks to hit .360. Nakita Gearhart(Waynesboro, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) chipped in 11 kills and sported a .556 hitting percentage. Kelly Reynolds (Upper Saint Clair, Pa./Upper Saint Clair) totaled 50 assists while also piling up six digs. Both Phillips and Gearhart had three assisted blocks. Katie Byrne (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) led the defense with 21 digs while Shaina Robinett (York, Pa./PA Leadership School) added 12 and Glen Brumm (Oro Valley, Ariz./Canyon Del Oro) had 11.

Johns Hopkins caught the Eagles off-balance in the early stages of the first set at it led 10-4. JC called a timeout and were able to settle down and chip away at the Blue Jay lead. JC narrowed the score to 19-18 but an attack error on Megan Conger (Rockville, Md./Our Lady Of Good Counsel) and a Blue Jay service ace gave JHU a 21-18 advantage. John Hopkins lead increased to 24-21 but JC was able to rally with straight points to come back and win the set 25-21.

"I think the sense of urgency showed up halfway through the first set," said head coach Heather Pavilk. "We started to play the kind of ball I know we can play."

The Blue Jays again led in the second set and once again the Eagles came back and tie the set at 14-14. A 4-1 JHU run staked Johns Hopkins to a 19-15 but JC came back to once again tie the frame up. JC did lead 22-21 but just like it did previously, JHU got the points it needed down the stretch to win and even the match up.

Johns Hopkins continued its hot streak as it scored the first five points in the third set. Juniata's answer was to rattled off seven straight points and go up 7-5. Clinging to a 12-11 lead, the Eagles put up another 7-0 run and increased its advantage to 19-11. It would be enough of a cushion as JC easily claimed the set 25-15.

Tied at 6-6 in the fourth frame, a 7-0 run by the Eagles gave them a 13-6 lead. The advantage grew to 18-10 and 24-17. The Blue Jays would not go away quietly as they narrowed the deficit but Suzanne Gloekler's (Pittsburgh, Pa./Oakland Catholic) kill ended the threat and the Eagles claimed the match.

"After that slow start in the third, I think we came to life as a team that can play really well at time," stated Pavlik. "I thought it was a little nerves up front and the we settled it down.

Juniata will play Mary Washington in the final. Match time is at 2:00 p.m.