BLOOMFIELD, N.J. – After falling behind 7-1 in Set 3, the Bloomfield College women's volleyball team came growling back to take the set 25-22 and earn the match sweep, 3-0 in the opening round of the CACC Tournament Tuesday evening. The victory over the visiting #3 seed in the South Division, Georgian Court University ran the Bears overall record to 23-5 on the season and guaranteed head coach Amable Martinez his first trip to the league's semifinal round on Friday. 

Senior Diannmarie Rivera (Trujillo Alto, P.R.) and junior Valerie Bermudez (San Juan, P.R.) led the attack for the Bears with 13 and 10 kills respectively. The tandem also recorded a double-double on the night with 13 and 11 digs respectively as well. All-CACC First Team libero, Samantha Rios (Juncos, P.R.) registered a game-high 19 digs while All-CACC Second teamers, Alex Glasper (Hainesport, N.J.) and Nayade Paulino (Paterson, N.J.) had three blocks between them. Paulino also picked up 8 kills while junior Edmarie Freytes (San Juan, P.R.) passed out 26 assists. 
 
After the Bears led for most of the first set, Georgian Court (20-15) rallied to tie the game 19-19 before Bloomfield put the finishing touches on the 25-22 win with a Bermudez kill. The Bears continued their momentum into the second set by creating a 10-5 advantage to force a timeout by the Lions. The timeout proved effective as the Georgian Court's offense responding to even the set at 15 and take the lead on the next point at 16-15. Bloomfield once again found an answer, rattling off the next five points to seize control of the set 20-16. A Rivera service ace would seal the win 25-20 and double the Bears advantage to 2-0 for the match.
 
The Lions will host the rest of the CACC Volleyball Tournament in Lakewood, N.J. this weekend and were not ready to bow out of the post-season just yet and roared to a 7-1 advantage in Set 3. Coach Martinez took a timeout that settled his team and readjusted their focus to the task at hand. Bloomfield battled back and knotted the match at 16 but Georgian Court dealt a 5-1 blow to take charge 21-17.
 
The Bears head coach took another timeout and this time his team came back to the court with a hungrier look in their eyes. The Lions managed just one more point in the match and after Paulino rose in the air for the final kill of the game, Bloomfield was on their way to the CACC Semifinal for the first time in their coach's tenure.
 
The Bears next opponent will be the South Division's top seeded, Philadelphia University. Both teams will head to Lakewood to do battle at Georgian Court University's Wellness Center at 3:30 pm on Friday.  For more information on the CACC Tournament click here.
 
Stay up-to-date with the latest news, including game previews and recaps, from the Bloomfield College athletic department by liking the Bears on Facebook and following the Bears on Twitter or Instagram @GO_BCBears. Use the hashtag #BCBears to join the conversation.