

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., October 31, 2006 – Springfield College senior middle blocker MaryKathryn O’Neil (Liverpool, N.Y.) led all players with 13 kills and five blocks (one solo) as the No. 3 Pride cruised past No. 6 Clark University in the first round of the 2006 New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Women’s Volleyball Tournament, 3-0.
SC improves to 26-7 overall on its season with the sweep over the Cougars, who finish their season with a 12-13 overall mark. Game scores were 30-12, 30-16, and 30-10.
The Pride moves on to the semifinal round of the NEWMAC tourney on Friday evening, November 3rd, as SC will face No. 2 MIT at 7:30 p.m. at top-seeded Coast Guard. In the first semifinal match of the night, No. 1 Coast Guard will host No. 4 Wellesley College at 5:00 p.m.
Pride sophomore setter Caitlin Mulroy (Syracuse, N.Y.) compiled a match-best 31 assists to go along with six digs, three service aces, two blocks, and one kill in tonight’s quarterfinal match. As a team, SC racked up an impressive 20 service aces this evening, as senior outside hitter Nicole Curtin (Beacon, N.Y.) led everyone with six to go along with her eight kills.
Sophomore outside hitter Karleen Porcena, junior middle blocker Sarah Hunsucker, and senior outside hitter Margo Labadorf each had five kills to lead the visiting Cougars.
Joel Dearing will enter his 21st season as head women's volleyball coach at his alma mater in the fall of 2009. 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 670-298 (.692) overall mark in 28 seasons as a women’s volleyball coach.
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