Wildcats advance to first regional final behind Alessi & Logan double-doubles
Wilke posted her 16th double-double of the season for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes) |
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (December 3, 2021) – Second-seeded Daemen College erased a one set deficit to advance to its first NCAA Division II East Regional final with a 3-1 (21-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-20) triumph over third-seeded Stonehill College in semifinal round action of the 2021 NCAA Division II East Regional, hosted by top-seeded American International College, at Henry A. Butova Gymnasium tonight.
Daemen (24-7, 12-0 ECC) advances to tomorrow night's NCAA Division II East Regional Championship, where it will face top-seeded and host American International (29-6, 11-2 NE10) tomorrow at 5 p.m. The Yellow Jackets advanced to its second-straight regional final with a three-set sweep of fifth-seeded Holy Family University (25-5, 18-0 CACC) in tonight's second semifinal.
Stonehill, which earned its first NCAA Tournament win in program history yesterday with a three-set sweep of sixth-seeded Jefferson University, sees its season end with a 22-10 record overall, including 10-3 in the NE10. The Skyhawks, ranked No. 1 in the East Region for the first time in program history earlier in the fall, earned their third NCAA Tournament bid and posted the eighth 20-win season in program history.
Daemen 3, Stonehill 1
(21-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-20)
Stonehill Leaders
Lauren Wilke Senior, Setter: Double-double with 16 assists, ten digs and a kill.
Carly Russell Senior, Libero: 18 digs, 4 assists.
Jentry Allen Sophomore, OH: 12 kills, 2 blocks (one solo).
Molly Turner Junior, Setter: 19 assists, 6 digs.
Daemen Leaders
Olivia Alessi Sophomore, Setter: Double-double with 34 assists, 17 digs, 3 kills, a service ace.
Sam Logan Senior, OH: Double-double with 14 kills, 12 digs, four assists, two block assists and an ace.
Jasmine Brundage Sophomore, Libero: 18 digs, five assists.
Caitlyn Meyer Postgrad, RS: 11 kills, 9 digs, 2 aces, 2 block assists.
Allen posted a team-high 12 kills and added two blocks (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes) |
How it Happened
- Stonehill overcame an early five point deficit (7-2) in the opening set to grab a quick lead in the match as senior Abby Remick totaled five kills and Allen added four, while Wilke tallied six assists and four digs.
- Stonehill chipped away and pulled within a point (17-16) after an Allen kill capped three-straight points on Wilke's serve after a Daemen service error.
- Stonehill scored three straight points to grab its first lead (20-18) after a Remick kill and then closed out the set with a 4-1 run, keyed by three points on Russell's serve, capped by a set-clinching kill from junior Basia Peragine.
- Daemen look poised to quickly even the match at a set apiece, staking out leads of 11-2, 17-4 and 20-8 before Stonehill got back in it, reeling off an 8-3 run to pull within six (22-16) after a block by seniors Clare Feeman and Shannon Burgess.
- Stonehill drew within two (22-20) on Feeman's serve and after a block by Burgess and sophomore Lauren McCloskey.
- Daemen was able to close out the set after Stonehill battled off two set points with a McCloskey kill and solo block before freshman Amelia Armstrong spiked down the set clinching point.
- Daemen shook off Stonehill's second set comeback effort and grabbed the early lead in the third set, before the Skyhawks evened the score at 9-9 on a Wildcats attack error.
- Stonehill was unable to grab the lead and after leveling the set at 17-17 with an Allen kill and at 19-all with a block from McCloskey and Burgess, Daemen closed out the set with a 6-1 run capped by three straight Skyhawks hitting errors.
- With Stonehill's season on the line, the fourth set was tight throughout with Stonehill grabbing its first lead since the first set (6-4) on back-to-back Daemen errors.
- A 6-2 Stonehill run saw the Skyhawks take a four-point lead (17-13) after kills from Remick and Allen, but Daemen followed with a 9-2 run to clinch the victory, sealing the set with the final four points.
Turner dished out 19 assists and added six digs (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes) |
Noteworthy
- Daemen advances to the East Regional championship match for the first time after collecting the program's first two NCAA Tournament wins this weekend.
- Wilke recorded her 16th double-double of the season (31st career) and caps her career with 2,173 career assists – good for fifth in program history.
- Allen registered a pair of double-digit kill totals in her first two NCAA Tournament matches, giving her eight for the season.
- Russell's 18 digs today extend her program single-season record total to 558 and finishes her career with 996 after becoming the first in program history to surpass 500 digs in a season.
- Remick's 368 kills this season finish third on Stonehill's all-time single-season list.
- Stonehill's 22 wins this season are its most since winning a program-record matching 27 matches in 2011 – its first NCAA Tournament season.
- Tonight capped the playing career for Stonehill's five seniors: Burgess, Feeman, Remick, Russell and Wilke. Three of which capped their career with All-NE10 honors and two also being named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-East Region team.
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