United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Volleyball

NEW LONDON, CONN.--(11/11/09)--Freshman Lauren Bloch had a match-high 17 kills while sophomore Nicole Johnson added 11 kills leading third-seeded Coast Guard to a 3-1 (13-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-17) win over sixth-seeded Johnson & Wales in the first round of the ECAC Division III New England tournament. The Bears have now won seven straight ECAC Tournament first round matches since 2001.

Coast Guard (26-5) will take on seventh-seeded Colby Sawyer in the semifinals at 2 p.m. on Saturday at top-seeded Plymouth State. Colby Sawyer upset second-seeded Brandeis 3-2 in the first round. The Championship match will also be played at Plymouth State on Saturday afternoon. Top-seeded Plymouth State will take on fourth-seeded WNEC in the first semifinal at noon. The Bears won the ECAC championship in 2002 and 2005 and lost in the championship match in 2004.

Just as Coast Guard did in its win in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) tournament quarterfinal, the Bears dropped the first set.

Johnson & Wales dominated play in the first set as the Wildcats led 7-3 early and then 12-7 before scoring seven of the next eight points for a commanding 19-8 lead on their way to winning the opening set 25-13.

The Wildcats (25-14) scored the first four points of the second set before Coast Guard regained the lead for good at 13-12 on a kill by Bloch, part of six straight points as the Bears turned a 12-11 deficit into a 17-12 lead. Freshman Keriann Mason served five straight points in that run. Coast Guard would win the second set 25-16.

Coast Guard, behind the serving of Mason, scored the first five points of the third set and never trailed. The Bears scored four of the final five points in the set for a 25-19 win.

Junior Jessica Anderson served five straight points to key a 6-0 run in the fourth set as Coast Guard turned a 10-8 lead into a 16-8 advantage enroute to closing out the match with a 25-17 win.

Mason finished with 10 kills and nine digs, Anderson led the way with 17 digs, junior Ashley Bullard tied her season-high with 11 digs while freshman Karen Matic had match-high 41 assists for Coast Guard.

Junior Catherine Bravo led Johnson & Wales with 12 kills to go with six digs while senior Ashley Constantino closed out her career with eight kills, 17 digs and a pair of aces. Sophomore Abbey Reedy added seven kills to go with her team-high three blocks while freshman Kasey Higgins had 26 assists for the Wildcats.

2009 ECAC Division III New England Volleyball Tournament

FIRST ROUND—Wednesday, Nov. 11th
Plymouth State 3, Emmanuel 0
WNEC 3, Endicott 1
Coast Guard 3, Johnson & Wales 1
Colby Sawyer 3, Brandeis 2

SEMIFINALS/CHAMPIONSHIP—Saturday, Nov. 14th @ Plymouth State
Plymouth State vs. WNEC, noon
Colby-Sawyer vs. Coast Guard, 2 p.m.
Championship Game, 5 p.m.