The College of Mount St. Joseph women's volleyball team is returning to the NCAA Division III Tournament after a one-year layoff, thanks to a thrilling 3-2 win today in the HCAC Tournament Championship over host and top seed Transylvania University. The Mount, which tied the Pioneers for first place in the HCAC regular season, but drew the second seed due to a 3-2 loss at home to Transy late in the season, won 25-20, 25-14, 21-25, 15-25, 15-8. The Lions, 22-10 on the season, receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship, which will begin this week. The Mount's first round opponent, date and time is to be determined.
The Mount has won the HCAC Tournament Championship 11 times (1998-2006, 2008 and 2010). The last time they advanced out of the regional was 2001 when they fell in the NCAA Quarterfinals to the University of LaVerne.
The two teams battled today to four closely-fought sets in the championship match, before the Lions posted the set five and match win. Transy jumped out to a 2-0 lead in set five only to see the Lions fight back and with the score tied four-all, the Mount went ahead 6-4, a lead they would never relinquish. Lindsay Criswell (Cincinnati, OH/McAuley) played particularly well in final set, recording kills to put the Mount up by scoers of 8-5, 9-6 and 10-7. Jamie Grauvogel (Cleves, OH/Harrison) posted kills before and after a Pioneers' timeout, giving the Lions a commanding 12-5 advantage. Transy would get no closer as Lyndsey Waldman (Batavia, OH/Clermont Northeastern) and Kat Roedig (Cincinnati, OH/McAuley) had kills to end the match.
The Lions had 49 kills as a team and hit .214. Grauvogel led the Mount with 21 kills while Roedig chipped in 12 kills. Waldman had 39 assists and five service aces. Jaclyn Stenger (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) had 17 digs and four service aces; while Michelle Woods Ft. Wright, KY/Newport Central Catholic) added 15 digs.
Grauvogel was named the Tournament MVP while Stenger and Roedig were named to the All-Tournament team.
Click here for photos of all three players with HCAC Commissioner Chris Ragsdale:ÂÂ
Jamie Grauvogel                    Jaclyn Stenger                   Kat Roedig
