Nov. 1, 2007

Box Score

Aston, Pa.  - Second-seeded Neumann College (22-10) defeated third-seeded Cabrini College (18-11) tonight in the PAC semifinals at the Bruder Gymnasium in Aston, Pa. The Knights took down the Cavaliers in three games, 30-18, 30-18, 30-23, to advance to the championship match Saturday against top-seeded Eastern University. Junior outside hitter Rachael Sokolovich led the Knights with 14 kills followed by Julia Tarloski with 9. 

"I am happy with the win but and not satisfied with the overall performance of our team. To increase the satisfaction we must be focused on every play and be present for every moment of the game heading forward, " stated Head Coach Deana Jespersen after the match.  

 Rachele DiMichele congratulates Rachael Sokolovich on the court
Neumann opened the match with a 2-1 lead in game one off of a quick kill by Sokolovich and an ace by Kristen Verone. The Knights used a 3-0 run to gap the Cavaliers, 5-2, including another kill by Sokolovich and one from Emilee Gruse. Cabrini tallied kills, but Neumann maintained its lead with another kill by Gruse, two from Julia Tarloski, one from Ashley Mathis and one from Melissa Haines. Neumann also received stellar defense from Tarloski and Mathis and Lindsay Buckland and Gruse who teamed up for two block assists in game one. The Knights ended game one on a 3-0 run, which included two errors on the Cavaliers and a service ace by Sokolovich to end the game, 30-18.

 

Game two opened to a 3-0 lead for Neumann on a service ace by Sokolovich and two errors by the Cavaliers. Cabrini came with in three, 12-9, but would get no closer to overtaking the lead; as the Knights hung on to win game two.  Neumann ended the game on 5-0 run led by Lindsay Buckland and Julia Tarloski. Emilee Gruse won the game for the Knights with an ace, 30-18.

 

Sokolovich and Buckland each pounded a kill down the middle to put the Knights on the board in game three. Two service aces by Gruse increased the Knights lead to 6-2. Stephanie Recklau collected a kill for the Cavaliers, but Neumann followed with a 4-0 run including kills by Mathis and Tarloski and a service ace by senior Alyssa Brigg. Neumann went on a 5-0 run late in the game (25-12) and never looked back. Julia Tarloski took a pass from Rachele Dimichele and pounded it down for the Knights' 28th point of the night. Cabrini handed Neumann its 29th point and Rachel Sokolovich sealed the Cavaliers fate with a kill to the left side off an assist from Kristen Verone.

 

Neumann was led by Sokolovich with 14 kills, 2 service aces, and 7 digs. Meghan Wilson remained in control of the Knights defense with 20 digs while Kristen Verone set the offense with 28 assists. Emilee Gruse had 4 service aces for the Knights in the win.

Neumann will be back in action in their second consecutive PAC championship match on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. at Eastern University.