UNION, NJ- The Southern Vermont College Women's Volleyball team continued its 2011 success this weekend with a Kean Tournament Championship. The Mountaineers took on quality opponents, Goucher, Kean University, Ithaca College, and Philadelphia Biblical. SVC won 3-1 versus Goucher, 3-0 against Kean and Ithaca, and 3-2 versus Philadelphia Biblical in the weekend finale.
"This weekend we took down some very tough opponents and we fought our biggest opponent, lack of communication," said Head Coach Josh Stokes. "In the end we had a strong finish to an amazing weekend."
The Mountaineers who now sit at 14-2 have surpassed the best start in SVC history, and also tied the most wins to a Women's program at the school.
For the weekend Mountaineer setter Hershey Canta was named tournament Most Valuable Player, while her co-captain Joanna Hogue was named All-Tournament Team. Canta compiled 150 assists in the four matches and picked up 10 aces. Hogue led the Mountaineers with 46 digs.
Friday evening SVC started off, the same place they have been all season, the win column. The Mountaineers won the first two sets before falling in game three, but they closed the door in game four with a 25-13 victory. In the nightcap SVC took on Kean University and won 3-0. The Mountaineers were led by Jessica Alvarez who hit for a .429 hitting percentage.
Saturday, SVC didn't take any breaks as they started the day with a 3-0 triumph over Ithaca College. Alvarez again eclipsed the .400 mark as Alicia Manzo also hit .400, nine kills on 15 attempts.
In the nightcap SVC and Philadelphia Bible had a hard fought match with the Mountaineers coming away champions. Southern Vermont took a 2-1 advantage before losing the fourth game. In the fifth and deciding set the Mountaineers rallied for a 15-7 victory. Manzo led SVC to the championship with a .474 hitting percentage as Junior Middle Danielle Healis hit .500.
Southern Vermont will take its tremendous 2011 start to the road Wednesday evening. The Mountaineers will take on regionally ranked Williams College at 7:00PM.