LAKEWOOD, NJ. (Nov. 13, 2010) – Caldwell College captured its first-ever Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Volleyball Championship with a 3-0 victory over Holy Family University Saturday afternoon at Georgian Court University. The Cougars, led by Tournament MVP Susan McDonough, won by scores of 25-10, 25-14 and 27-25.

Caldwell jumped to a quick lead in the first set, leading 14-4 before Holy Family called a timeout to regroup. However, the Cougars, the top seed from the North Division, never relinquished control and put it away after kills by senior Justine Pecora and CACC Player of the Year, Titilola Alao.

Caldwell, which is now 24-7 this season, gained an early advantage in the second set as well, forging a 10-5 lead early on. Shortly thereafter, the Cougars went on a 5-0 run to extend a 17-12 lead to a 22-12 edge. An Alao kill made the score, 24-14, and a blocking error by the Tigers ended the set at 25-14.

Holy Family (21-10), the top seed from the South Division, turned the tables in the third set, jumping to a 10-4 lead in the early going. However, the Cougars answered and cut the lead to 11-10 on a kill by McDonough. The set was tight for the remainder and included ties at 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18 and 19 before Holy Family pushed ahead, 23-20. Caldwell responded again and tied it at 23 after a Holy Family attack error. The Tigers grabbed a 24-23 lead on a Jill Keeve kill, but Amber Mosher came back with a kill to knot the score at 24.

With the score tied at 25 minutes later, Alao provided another kill to give Caldwell a 26-25 lead before senior Cory Roesing lobbed a kill just over the reach of the Tiger defense to give the Cougars the victory and its first volleyball title.

Alao had eight kills at a .462 percentage, as the Cougars hit .363 as a team. McDonough finished with 11 kills, five digs and two blocks, while Mosher had 10 kills at a .476 percentage. Lauren Roth provided 36 assists and nine digs and was named to the All-Tournament team along with McDonough and Mosher.

Junior outside hitter Jill Keeve had 10 kills and six assists for Holy Family, while senior Aimee Drabyn contributed 22 assists and nine digs. Both Keeve and Drabyn were All-Tournament team selections. Holy Family hit just .054 for the match.

As a result of the triumph, the Cougars have received the CACC’s automatic berth to the 2010 NCAA Division II Volleyball East Region Championships. The field and host location will be announced Sunday night by the NCAA.  

2010 CACC Volleyball Tournament

Quarter-finals
Tuesday, Nov. 9
N#1 Caldwell 3, N#4 Nyack 0
N#3 Bloomfield 3, N#2 Dominican 2
S#1 Holy Family 3, S#4 Georgian Court 0
S#2 Philadelphia 3, S#3 Wilmington 0

Semi-Finals - at Georgian Court University
Friday, Nov. 12
Caldwell 3, Philadelphia 1
Holy Family 3, Bloomfield 0

Championship - at Georgian Court University
Saturday, Nov. 13
Caldwell 3, Holy Family 0

All-Tournament Team
Susan McDonough, Caldwell – MVP
Lauren Roth, Caldwell
Amber Mosher, Caldwell
Jill Keeve, Holy Family
Aimee Drabyn, Holy Family
Lauren Hoover, Philadelphia
Da’Cheray Thomas, Bloomfield
Amy Berry, Georgian Court
Yashani Smith, Dominican
Moana Masoniai, Nyack
Nicole Wiechecki, Wilmington