These Eagles are Elite: Women's Volleyball Wins 24th Straight to Advance to Elite 8

HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The #2 Juniata women's volleyball team swept aside Christopher Newport, 3-0, as they were named Champions of the Huntingdon, Pa. Regional Saturday evening in front of a packed Memorial Gymnasium.

The match started as a slugfest as the teams traded points for a long stretch, with an Eagle attack error making it 14-13. Audrey Muth smashed a ball that the CNU defender couldn't handle, and Lily Podolan went off the block for another kill as the Captains called timeout. Sydney Ohl served up her second ace of the set coming out of the time out, and an attack error from the visitors made it 18-13. CNU got within four for the final time in the set at 19-15. Three Mackenzie Coley kills and one mammoth Kennedy Christy kill that caromed off the face of a CNU player made it 23-15. A kill apiece ended set one, 25-17.

Eagles take set one 25-17 #wingsup #takingflight #wingsup pic.twitter.com/AnmU1vrdn8

— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) November 12, 2022

The second set saw the teams trade runs as the Eagles jumped ahead by eight, CNU got within four at 14-10, the Eagles pushed it back to eight, and the Captains came right back as they closed within four again at 20-16. Christy crushed a ball in the back row that CNU couldn't make a play on, and off a free ball, Muth took advantage with a kill of her own. Errors from both teams, with two from JC, made it 23-18, and another kill via Muth gave JC set point. Another free ball came Juniata's way, and they used it as Podolan obliterated another ball to end set two 25-18.

JC heads into set 3 up 2-0!! #WingsUp #TakingFlight #GoEagles pic.twitter.com/cRIakF5VJE

— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) November 12, 2022

Early in the third set, Juniata could smell the Primanti Brothers sandwiches from Huntingdon and mounted a decisive 18-5 run that saw Courtney Williams tally the final kill to end the match.

Eagles claim Regional Champs with set 3!!! #WingsUp #TakingFlight #GoEagles pic.twitter.com/2xLOsOLTHQ

— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) November 12, 2022

The win means the Eagles advance to the Elite 8, which will be hosted by Saint Vincent College and SportsPITTSBURGH at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse, home of Duquesne University.

The team had an impressive three days, sweeping every match. Five different players registered 20 kills over the three matches (Podolan 28, Coley 27, Muth 21, Christy 21, Williams 20), while four of them hit over .390. Kiona Sky Rousset-Hernandez had a great tournament from the service line with nine aces and added 37 digs. Ohl tallied five aces and 22 digs, while McKenna Walker had four aces and 24 digs. Foley marshaled the offense to great effect with 11.56 assists per set while the team hit .422 through the regional. She added 11 kills and 12 digs.

The win puts the Eagles at 31-1; they have won 24 straight games and will depart Memorial Gymnasium a pristine 19-0 on their home floor.

It will be the 32nd time the Juniata women's volleyball team has appeared in the Elite 8.

All-Tournament Team:

Juniata will find out who they play in the Elite 8 soon.