[Kutztown Press Release] KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL TEAM RECEIVES BID TO NCAA ATLANTIC REGIONAL

[Josh Leiboff]

Nov. 6, 2006

 

KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL TEAM RECEIVES BID TO NCAA ATLANTIC REGIONAL

 

KUTZTOWN, PA - Kutztown University's women's volleyball team will travel to Lock Haven University to take part in the 2006 NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament, Nov 9-11.  

 

            Kutztown, the #4 seed, will face Clarion, #5, in the third quarterfinal of the eight-team regional on Thursday at 5:00 PM at Lock Haven's Thomas Fieldhouse.  Sixth-seeded Indiana (PA) will face #3 seed Slippery Rock at noon, followed by #2 California (PA) vs. Lees-McRae (NC) at 2:30.  KU and Clarion play next, with the top seeded Lady Eagles of Lock Haven taking on #8 North Carolina Central at 7:30 PM.

 

            Action continues with the semifinals at 5:00 and 7:30 PM Friday and the final at 5:00 PM Saturday.  Tickets for each day are $10 for adults, $5 for students and $3 for children under 12.  

 

            This is the first appearance for Kutztown (23-7) in the Atlantic Regionals.  The Golden Bears, who won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East regular season title, lost in the semifinals of the PSAC playoffs this past weekend.  The Golden Bears are led by head coach John Gump, who is in his tenth season and earned his 400th career coaching victory as well as his 200th at KU this season.  The Golden Bears are led by the school's career record holder in kills, right-side hitter Sarah Brandon (sr. Gibsonia/Pine-Richland), who has 1,812 career kills.  She leads this year's squad with 435 kills, averaging 4.39 per game - best in the PSAC.  She also recorded 117 digs and 129 blocks.  Outside hitter Dani Witherite (sr. PA Furnace/State College) is the school's career leader in digs, with 1,469, and service aces, with 148.  Her 434 digs this season are second on the team.  She also is second on the team in kills (291).  Setter Austin Kinney (so. Landisville/Hempfield) has 970 assists and moved into third all-time with 2,199 career assists.  She is second on the team with 46 aces, to go along with 332 digs.  Libero Nicole Biuso (jr. S. Setauket, NY/Ward Melville) leads the team in digs (464) and service aces (50).  Middle hitter Shelby Bunting (sr. Green Lane/Pennridge) has notched 115 kills, 46 digs and 92 blocks.  Middle hitter Erin Waters (jr. Waymart/Western Wayne) has contributed 187 kills and 133 blocks. 

 

            Clarion (20-11) is coached by Jodi Burns.  The Golden Eagles are led by Christina Steiner with 363 kills (3.27 kills/game) and 412 digs.  Sarah Fries has 306 kill and 41 service aces this season.  Lauren Carter leads the team with 61 aces and 124 blocks, including 78 solo.  Kristi Fiorillo averages 11.42 assists per game and has 1,245 this year.  Vicky Gentile has 559 digs.

 

            Kutztown defeated Clarion in three games earlier this season, 30-23, 30-24, 30-19.  Brandon led KU with 16 kills.  Witherite notched 11 kills and 13 digs.  Kinney dished out 34 assists.  Steiner and Carter each had eight kills for Clarion.  Gentile notched 17 digs and Fiorillo dished out 28 assists.

 

            The winner of the regional will advance to the NCAA finals, November 16-18, on the campus of the University of West Florida.

 

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Josh Leiboff
Kutztown University Sports Information
Phone: (610) 683-4182
Fax: (610) 683-4676
Email: leiboff at kutztown.edu
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