Behrend Volleyball Closes Out 2006 Season with Second Place Finish at ECAC Championships
The
Penn State Behrend volleyball team completed a record-breaking 2006 season
with a second place finish in the ECAC Division III South Volleyball
Championships on November 10 and 11. Behrend (29-4) defeated Lebanon
Valley and Westminster before falling to host New Jersey City University in
the Championship Match.
On Friday, November 10, #2 seed Behrend rallied to defeat #7 Lebanon Valley
(21-11) in four games by scores of 27-30, 30-21, 32-30, 30-25. The
blue and white saw strong performances from seniors Elaine Voltz (Saxonburg/Knoch)
and Lisa Wagner (New Castle/Laurel). Voltz slammed 19 kills while
Wagner put away 13 kills to go along with 24 digs. Senior outside
hitter Karla Murray (North East/North East) tallied 18 digs and had two
service aces.
The win over Lebanon Valley put Behrend into the ECAC semifinals against #3
Westminster (24-12). It took four hard-fought games, but Behrend
picked up a victory for the second time this season against the Titans.
Scores were 30-21, 27-30, 30-24, and 32-30. Voltz was outstanding,
finishing with 25 kills and eight blocks. Sophomore defensive
specialist Brittany Hennessy (Hopewell/Hopewell) posted a season-high 31
digs, while senior outside hitter Paige Payer (Venango/Cambridge Springs)
chipped in with seven kills on 14 attempts.
In the championship match Behrend would face host and #1 seed New Jersey
City University. After NJCU
took a 1-0 lead in the match, the Behrend Lions claimed game two to even the
final, 1-1. The Gothic Knights edged Behrend 30-28 in the third game for a
2-1 edge.
In
the fourth game, NJCU was again challenged by the blue and white late, as
Behrend closed the Knights’ lead to 26-25. However, NJCU scored the final
four points to claim the championship. In the final match of their
careers, Behrend was again led offensively by Voltz and Wagner who finished
with 17 and 11 kills. Freshman setter Brooke Gallentine (Mt. Pleasant/Southmoreland)
dished out 42 assists to go along with 12 digs.
The 2006 season saw the Behrend squad set school records for wins (29) and
winning percentage (.879). The Behrend Lions also earned their first
postseason wins ever in the ECAC Tournament. Penn State Behrend will
lose five seniors from the 2006 team, as Murray, Payer, Voltz, Wagner, and
Katie Ward (Center/Monaca) wrap up their careers by finishing with a 55-12
record the past two seasons.