Comeback Victory Caps Big Day for Women’s Volleyball

SPRINGFIELD, OHIO- The #10 Juniata women's volleyball team faced two top 25 teams on the second day of competition at the Wittenberg National Invitational. Its big test came against the host #4 Tigers as the Eagles came back from down 0-2 to win 3-2 (20-25, 17-15, 25-22, 25-16, 15-9).

Defense was the key for Juniata as it totaled 18 assisted blocks. Megan Moroney (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) picked up five, Nakita Gearhart (Waynesboro, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) and Kristin Collins (Freedom, Pa./Ambridge) both had four, and Brittanie Tannenbaum (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Highlands Ranch) had three. Katie Bryne (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) picked up 28 digs. Tara Neidigh (State College, Pa./State College Area HS) added 16 digs.

The offense was led by Mar-Jana Phillips' (Carson, Calif./Rolling Hills Prep) 10 kills. Moroney and Tannenbaum both had nine kills. Kelly Reynolds (Upper Saint Clair, Pa./Upper Saint Clair) had a solid match with 39 assists, 12 digs, and three service aces.

Coach Heather Pavlik praised her team for showing resiliency and toughness in the comeback win.

The first set was close as it was tied at 15-15. A 6-0 Tiger run broke the stalemate as Wittenberg went ahead 21-15 and eventually won 25-20.

Wittenberg led for most of the second frame and after going ahead 18-10, never trailed by less than three points.  The Eagles found themselves behind in the third frame 10-4 but recovered to tie the set 12-12. After the final tie at 22-22, two attack errors by the Tigers put JC ahead 24-22 and Reynolds' kill gave Juniata match point.

Juniata's lead grew to as much as 21-11 in the fourth game. Wittenberg got to within 22-16, but a pair of kills from Moroney and one from Phillips won the set for the Eagles and forced a critical final frame.

Wittenberg put up a fight in the fifth and deciding set.  The two teams battled back and forth early on. JC broke a 6-6 tie with a 4-0 run to go up 10-6. The Tigers closed to 10-7 but a 5-2 run by the Eagles completed the comeback and upset.

Earlier in the day, Juniata defeated #17 St. Thomas (Minn.) 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-21). Reynolds had 42 assists. Gearhart accumulated 12 kills with Moroney adding 10 kills. Bryne led the defense with 17 digs. Chelsea Scafuro (Geneva, Ohio/Geneva) was right behind her with 16 digs and had six service aces.

The Eagles led for most of the first set and all of the second set to go ahead 2-0. Juniata found itself behind 14-8 in the third frame. A huge 13-0 run erased the deficit as JC surged ahead 21-14. The Tommies battled back to within three points, 24-21, but Phillips' kill ended the threat as the Eagles won the match.

Both Gearhart and Bryne were named to the All-Tournament Team following competition.

Juniata hosts the Asics Invitational next weekend. The Eagles play Stevens at 4 p.m. and Mount Union at 8 p.m. on Friday followed by Mary Washington at 2 p.m. and Clarkson at 6 p.m. on Saturday.