Volleyball Grinds Out Win, Qualifies for CSAC Playoffs
Captain Amanda Khozouri tabbed four aces and 10 digs, leads team playoffs for the fourth time

Volleyball Grinds Out Win, Qualifies for CSAC Playoffs

Women's Volleyball - 10/28/2015 10:49:00 PM

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Allentown, PA – After losing its first dozen matches of the season, Marywood University recovered during conference play to punch a spot in the Colonial States Athletic Conference women's volleyball playoffs with a three-set victory Wednesday over the Cedar Crest College. The Pacers earned at least a No. 5 seed with a chance to host a first round playoff game with a victory at Immaculata University Saturday.

The Pacers won by scores of 25-22, 26-24, 25-14. Marywood improves its record to 8-15 and 7-3 in conference play. Cedar Crest falls to 4-15 overall and 2-6 in the CSAC.

Maddie Lavery led the Pacers with 12 kills on 33 attempts for a .242 kill percentage. Mallorie Deschaine posted a double-double with 19 digs and 11 kills.

Danielle DeIulio provided 30 assists and three kills. Stacy Griffing notched a season-best 15 digs, and Amanda Khozouri generated four aces and 10 digs.

Both teams struggled on their service game, allowing more errors than kills. Marywood had nine errors and eight aces, while the Falcons committed 11 errors with just four aces.

Marywood shot .157 for the match. Cedar Crest had a shooting percentage of .065. Cedar Crest was led by Kaylee Martinez's 21 digs. Celina Danish had 19 assists.

The Falcons had a better shooting percentage in the first set despite the loss. Marywood led by as many as 10 (22-12) before the Falcons charged back. But their run of winning 10 of 12 points came to a close when Meghan Weeks had a kill from DeIulio for game point.

The second set featured 12 ties. This time, Cedar Crest was unable to close the deal, leading by as many as four (23-19) and having set point twice (24-22, 24-23). Fortunately for the Pacers, Marywood ended the match by taking seven of the last eight points off Shayna Finn and Khozouri points. With match point at 24-22, Deschaine made a kill from DeIulio. After an attack error evened the score, Deschaine and DeIulio connected again to allow Marywood to take its first lead since the beginning of the match. A Khozouri ace put the Pacers with two sets in the bag.

The third set tilted more in the Pacers' favor. Lauren Besecker ensured the win with five straight points off her serve.

It is the seventh straight season Marywood has made the CSAC playoffs. All seven of the Pacers' fall programs (excluding the independent women's golf) qualified for conference playoffs, a feat achieved for the first time since 2012.

The Pacers travel to Immaculata University in a battle for the No. 4 spot. Regardless of Saturday's result, the Pacers and Mighty Macs will likely face off three days later. If the Pacers win, they'll host the Mighty Macs three days later in the first round. An Immaculata win would keep the Pacers at No. 5 and force them to make the same trip down the Northeast Extension Tuesday.
 
 
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