September 14, 2008

CHEEK LEADS DOLPHINS TO SWEEP ON SECOND DAY OF LE MOYNE INVITATIONAL

Syracuse, N.Y. - Junior all-tournament outside hitter Elizabeth Cheek (Huntington Beach, Calif./Rosary) landed 21 kills and registered 26 digs to lead the Le Moyne College women's volleyball team to a pair of 3-0 sweeps over Stonehill and Caldwell on Sunday, Sept. 14 at Ted Grant Court.

 The Dolphins opened the afternoon with a 25-21 victory in their first set against Stonehill. After back and forth play led to a 21-21 tie, Le Moyne registered four straight points, including the final three on the serve of sophomore Krista Prentice (Amherst, N.Y./Sweet Home).

 In the second set, Le Moyne jumped out to a 14-7 lead en route to taking the set 25-21. Senior Caitlin Richardson (Victor, N.Y./Victor) and Amanda Kershner (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) led the Dolphin attack with six and five kills, respectively, in the set.

Le Moyne took the match with a 25-20 victory in the third set. Cheek posted four kills to lead the offense and six digs on the defensive end to secure the sweep.

In the final match of the afternoon, the Dolphins opened with a 25-21 victory over Caldwell. Cheek landed registered seven kills in 12 attack attempts to pace the Dolphins. Junior setter Kaylin Brainerd (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) gave the Dolphins their largest lead of the set at 22-17 with consecutive service aces.

After opening the second set with a 10-5 lead, Le Moyne closed out the Cougars with an 8-1 run to take the set 25-17. Brainerd tallied five of the points with her serve, including a pair of services aces. Kershner registered a block of a Caldwell attack to seal the set.

Le Moyne completed its afternoon with a 25-21 win in the third set with the Cougars. Freshman Kelli Willets (Apalachin, N.Y./Vestal) broke a 16-16 with six consecutive points off serve to break the game open.

Senior Jodi Smith (Angola, N.Y./Eden) contributed 21 kills and 14 digs on the afternoon, while Richardson and Kershner each posted 10 kills. Brainerd dished out 55 assists in the six games, while junior libero Lindsey Gleason (Hamburg, N.Y./Frontier) registered 18 digs.

The Dolphins return to action on Friday, Sept. 19 at conference newcomer New Haven at 7:00 p.m.

-agate

Le Moyne 3, Stonehill 0
Stonehill            21         21         20
Le Moyne          25         25         25

Le Moyne 3, Caldwell 0
Caldwell            21         17         21
Le Moyne          25         25         25

All-Tournament Team