Women's Volleyball Finishes Second at Hall of Fame Invitational
Semifinal MatchChampionship Match
NORTHAMPTON, Mass., October 22, 2005 - Springfield College senior tri-captains Ashley Reves (Orchard Park, N.Y.) and Alesia Vaccari (Winsted, Conn.) were each named to the All-Tournament Team as the Pride finished second out of 16 competing teams at the 2005 Volleyball Hall of Fame Invitational. SC went 3-1 in four Hall of Fame matches this weekend, improving its overall record to 24-6 on the season.
After winning its first two matches on Friday evening (Oct. 21) over Bowdoin and Bridgewater State, both by 3-0 scores, the Pride squared off against New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) rival, MIT, in the semifinal round of play on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 22) at Smith College. SC was looking to avenge an earlier loss to MIT from this past week, as the Engineers defeated the Pride in Blake Arena back on Tuesday evening (Oct. 18), 3-1.
SC did just that, defeating MIT 3-1 (25-30, 30-28, 30-25, 30-25) to move into the championship match against Wellesley College. Reves and junior outside hitter Jody Pfeifer (Northglenn, Colo.) led the way with 14 kills each against the Engineers, as Reves also added 19 digs. Junior libero Leah Hettrick (Meriden, Conn.) compiled 39 digs, and sophomore outside hitter Kara Ramos (Milford, Conn.) chipped in with 19 digs. Vaccari and junior outside hitter Nicole Curtin (Beacon, N.Y.) added five service aces apiece in the victory.
The championship match against NEWMAC foe, Wellesley College, proved to be a tough test. SC won the opening game of the match (31-29), and after losing the next two sets (29-31, 26-30), attempted a comeback, with a 30-25 win in game four. Wellesley was too much for SC on this day, however, as the Blue took the fifth and final game by a 15-8 margin, capturing the 2005 Hall of Fame Invitational crown, 3-2.
SC was led by Reves, with 14 kills, as Curtin, Pfeifer, and junior middle blocker MaryKathryn O'Neil (Liverpool, N.Y.) added 12 kills each against Wellesley. Hettrick added another 29 digs in the loss.
The Pride will get another crack at Wellesley College, however, as the Blue come into Springfield, Mass., for a NEWMAC match-up on Tuesday evening, October 25, in a 7:00 p.m. start in SC's final home regular season match in Blake Arena.
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Head Coach Joel Dearing
Joel Dearing will enter his 20th season as head women's volleyball coach at his alma mater in the fall of 2008. Dearing is regarded nationally as one of the sport’s best coaches and he has the resume to prove it. Dearing ranks in the top-10 in Division III history with a 638-293 (.685) overall mark in 27 seasons as a women’s volleyball coach.
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