Eagles Top Moravian & Scranton To Clinch Top Spot in Landmark Conference
BETHLEHEM, Pa.- The #2 Juniata women's volleyball picked up a pair of victories as they clinched the number one seed in the Landmark Playoffs, defeating Moravian University and The University of Scranton Saturday afternoon inside Johnston Hall.
In the opening set, kills from Kennedy Christy, Mackenzie Coley, and Lily Podolan, along with a Kiona Sky Rousset-Hernandez ace and an attack error by the Greyhounds, gave JC a 5-0 advantage. Moravian got points on the board via a kill before kills from Coley and Christy were followed by a pair of Mckenna Walker aces to make it 9-1. The Eagles didn't relent, going on a 9-0 run later in the set and eventually taking set one 25-6 on a service error.
Set two saw the Eagles scurry out to a 6-2 advantage. A kill and an ace from Aly Reardon proceeded by kills from Audrey Muth and Mackenzie Coley; a Greyhound attack error and another Coley kill made it 12-2. The Eagles cruised through the rest of the set, winning 25-6 on a block from Lexy Bloss and Brianne Carmody.
The final set saw Moravian score the opener before the Eagles scored 13 consecutive points. An attack error briefly stopped the Eagle rampage, but the team got right back as they rattled off the final 12 points they needed to win the match, 25-2.
The Eagles tied one conference record, as they tallied 19 aces as a team in the win. They also broke the Landmark Conference record for hitting percentage in a game as they hit .536.
In the second match of the day against the Royals of Scranton, the Eagles had another quick start as they picked up five quick points on an ace from Rousset-Hernandez, a block by Christy and Coley, and kills from Coley and Podolan along with a Scranton error. The Eagles nursed a lead for most of the set, with the Royals pulling within three several times, with the final time coming with the score at 20-17. A Muth kill and an error from Scranton made it 22-17. The teams traded points to get to 23-19 before a solo block from Courtney Williams, and a kill from Podolan ended set one, 25-19.
Juniata fended off the Royals several times in the second set, as Scranton would try to get closer than three, and every time the Eagles had a response. Twice with Scranton pulling within three, Juniata would rattle off three straight points. With the score at 20-16, a kill from Muth
An ace from Olivia Foley and a Royal attack error pushed the Eagle advantage back to seven. Juniata took set two on a service error, 25-18.
Scranton led the entire way in the third set, but the Eagles made them earn it. With the score at 18-23, a kill from Williams followed by an ace from Rousset-Hernandez, a kill from Podolan, a block from Coley and Podolan, and finally a Coley kill made it 23-23. A block and a kill from the Royals handed them set three, 23-25.
Juniata started the fourth with another 5-0 run, but the Royals fought back this time, pulling even at 8-8. Two kills from Williams, a block from her and Muth, along with a Podolan kill, made it 13-8. The Royals hung around, getting within four at 19-15. Another Williams kill, an ace from Foley, and three straight Muth kills gave Juniata match point. Scranton fought off two match points before Podolan ended things, 25-17.
The win gave Juniata sole possession of first place in the Landmark Conference and means once again the postseason is running through Huntingdon. It also is the second straight year the Eagles have gone undefeated in the month of October.
Juniata will host Susquehanna in the Landmark Semifinals Wednesday at 7:00.