HUNTINGDON, Pa. - The No. 22 Salisbury
University volleyball team claimed it's first-ever NCAA tournament
victory with a 3-0 decision over The Richard Stockton College of
New Jersey on Thursday afternoon here in the first round of the
Juniata regional. The win marks the fourth victory for SU over the
Ospreys this season and the third shutout.
Salisbury (36-1), Capital Athletic Conference champions, extends
its nation best winning streak to 36 matches. The Sea Gulls, the
third-seed in the regional, are making the program's second
consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament and fifth overall in
program history.
Salisbury will next face No. 23 Eastern University, the
second-seed, who defeated Neumann College in straight sets 25-15,
25-23, 25-8 on Thursday. The second round match is slated for
Friday, November 14, at 4:30 p.m.
The Sea Gulls claimed the shutout after winning three
consecutive sets 25-21, 25-9, 25-15. SU was led by senior setter
Jaime Marzocchi (29 assists, 18 digs) as she moved
into fourth all-time in school history with 1,552 digs.
Marzocchi passes Abbey Petrecca's mark of 1,549 digs. Senior
outside hitter Stacey Krebs (seven kills, 12 digs)
and junior outside hitter Rachel Downes (six
kills, 11 digs) led the Sea Gulls on the outside. In the middle,
junior middle hitter Nicole Massarelli (10 kills,
three blocks) and sophomore middle hitter Alexandria
Malesick (six kills) played key roles. Junior libero
Gabby Long paced SU with 19 digs and three service
aces.
Richard Stockton, champions of the New Jersey Athletic
Conference, was led by Amanda Burkhart (10 kills, 11 digs) and
Christine Aletras (22 assists, 12 digs). The sixth-seed Ospreys end
their season with a 29-9 record. Salisbury faced Stockton in the
Battlefield Classic on September 6 and won 3-1, then swept the
Ospreys on September 20 in back-to-back matches in the Sea Gull
Classic.
2008 NCAA Division III Volleyball Tournament
