Blue Devils claim first SUNYAC title
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Women's volleyball
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Fredonia State won its first SUNYAC championship in women's volleyball by defeating New Paltz, 3-0, on Saturday afternoon at Dods Hall.
The Blue Devils (27-9) also set a school record for wins in a season and earned their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth with the 26-24, 25-15, 25-18 victory. They will likely play next Thursday at one of the regional sites. The NCAA field will be announced Monday.
"To win the SUNYAC is a tremendous accomplishment," Blue Devil head coach Geoff Braun said. "There are some great teams in our conference. Our goal will be to represent the SUNYAC well in the NCAA tournament."
Senior outside hitter Leanne Maloney (West Seneca/Mount Mercy) was selected SUNYAC Tournament Most Valuable Player. She was joined on the all-tournament team by two teammates, senior outside hitter Amy Bertrando (Westfield) and sophomore opposite Jenna Tatu (Tonawanda/Kenmore West).
Statistically, Maloney had nine kills and 11 digs in the title match. Bertrando had 12 kills and two blocks, and Tatu three assists. In addition, senior setter Alyssa Torpy (West Henrietta/Rush-Henrietta) had 34 assists, 14 digs, three blocks, and two service aces; sophomore middle blocker Kaitlin Erdmann (Randolph) had four solo blocks and four block assists; freshman middle blocker Chelsea Senn (Hamburg/Frontier) had 11 kills and two blocks; and freshman libero Sarah Zureck (Lancaster/St. Mary's) had 11 digs.
"Jenna Tatu really was a much-needed spark on the right side," Braun said. "She has always been a big game type of player and she proved it again today. Amy Bertrando is our rock. She is our go-to in clutch situations and had some big kills today. New Paltz served at her all match and she passed very well too.
"Leanne Maloney is five-foot-nothing and she never backs down. She plays the most inspirational volleyball and it's highly contagious. The last couple days have been so much fun. This is a really special group and I'm proud to be their coach."
In a battle of No. 1 seeds, the Blue Devils and Hawks (29-9) were meeting for the second time this season. The Hawks won the previous meeting, 3-0, last Saturday at the Vassar Tournament. Each team advanced to the title game by winning their semifinal matches Friday.
After a see-saw start to the afternoon, the Blue Devils took the momentum midway through the second set and never looked back. After a kill by Bertrando forged a 15-15 tie, the Blue Devils rattled off the next 10 points with Torpy serving. Tatu had a bump, a kill, a block assist, and an assist during the winning sequence which ended with three straight New Paltz errors.
The Blue Devils led 3-2 early in the third set before going on a 10-2 run. Among the scoring plays were kills by Senn and Bertrando, blocks by Bertrando and Erdmann, a serving ace by Zureck, and a kill and two service aces by Torpy. The Hawks eventually had runs of four points and three points but could get no closer than five points of the lead.
With the Blue Devils leading 24-16, the pro-partisan Fredonia State crowd got on its feet to cheer for the clinching point. The celebration was delayed as New Paltz scored the next two points on kills by freshman outside hitter Melinda DiGiovanna (West Hempstead) and senior outside hitter Samanta Prudente (Huntington Station/Walt Whitman), but a serving error by the Hawks ended the match.
The Hawks were led by DiGiovanna with seven kills and 17 digs, middle hitter Brittany Coyle (Middletown/Minisink Valley) with eight kills and three solo blocks, and junior setter Stephanie Bova (Central Square) with 25 assists. DiGiovanna and Coyle were selected to the all-tournament team, as were Cortland senior setter Brittney Horton (Owego) and Brockport senior defensive specialist Sarah Beaumont (Rochester/West Irondequoit).