Eagles Soar Past #12 Bears
CLAREMONT, CA.-The Juniata women’s volleyball team opened their west coast trip with a dominant 3-0 (25-22, 25-10, 25-17) win over #12 Washington (Mo.), Friday afternoon in Roberts Pavilion on the first day of the East-West Challenge.
CLAREMONT, CA.- The Juniata women's volleyball team opened their west coast trip with a dominant 3-0 (25-22, 25-10, 25-17) win over #12 Washington (Mo.), Friday afternoon in Roberts Pavilion on the first day of the East-West Challenge.
The match opened with the Bears taking an 2-8 lead, and JC quickly called timeout. Facing a 9-14 deficit, Juniata reeled off five straight points. An attack error by Wash U., a block by Dejia Danhi (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge) and Morgan Edwards (Lancaster, Pa./Penn Manor), a kill by Victoria Taylor (Middletown, Del./Delaware Military Academy), a Danhi kill and finally a block by Marybeth Weihbrecht (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) and Edwards tied things at 14-14. The Bears built their lead back up to three, but JC tied things again at 21-21, and Wash. U called timeout. The teams traded points before the Eagles wrapped up the opening set. A kill by Edwards, a block by Edwards and Danhi and another kill by Danhi closed set one at 25-22.
The second set was all Juniata as they hit .579, their best mark in a single set this season.
The third set saw the Bears take the first three points, but JC quickly retook the lead via a service ace by Danhi. Errors by the Bears coupled with kills from Moira Folan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Oakland Catholic HS), Marie Gonsar (New Castle, Pa./Shenango H.S.) and Taylor put the Eagles up 13-7. Wash U. got within three at 14-11 before the Eagles put the match out of reach. Danhi and Gonsar both tallied kills, the Bears made an attack error, Danhi and Edwards combined for a block which was followed by a block from Danhi and Gonsar to make it 20-11. Later, a kill from Taylor gave JC set point and a block from Danhi ended the match.
It was the 37th meeting between these two programs. The last time Juniata swept Wash U. was back in 2004 in the National Championship game. The Eagles swept both meetings that season. The teams have met previously in the national championship game on five occasions.
JC will play #6 ranked Emory at 7:45 EST.