Nov. 9, 2010

Box Score

Garden City, N.Y. - The Adelphi University volleyball team played host to sixth seeded Bentley University in the quarterfinals of the Northeast-10 playoffs on Tuesday, November 9. The Panthers trailed, 2-1, before rallying to collect the victory, 3-2 to advance to the semifinals of the NE-10 playoffs and earn Head Coach Danielle MacKnight her 100th career win. With the win Adelphi improves to 19-10 overall, while Bentley falls to 17-14.

Bentley took a 18-12 lead in the first set, before a Bentley attack error sparked a 9-3 Adelphi run that knotted the score at 21 on a Chelsea Overholt kill. The score was again tied at 23, before the Panthers were able to push an advantage and claim a 27-25 victory courtesy of another Falcon error.

For the second set in a row Bentley jumped out to a lead, this time claiming a 16-11 advantage. The Panthers again battled back, knotting the action at 17 and again at 22 on an Emily Dorko kill. However, the Falcons took a quick timeout, regrouped and moved out to a 24-22 lead. Another Overholt kill pulled Adelphi within one, 24-23, but an Alexandra Kahen service error handed Bentley the win, 25-23 and tied the match up at one.

Bentley took a lead for the third straight set as they controlled the action to the tune of 16-12. In typical Adelphi fashion the Panthers again roared back, pulling to within one point, 23-22, on an Overholt hammer and tied the action at 23 on a Heather Mau ace. But, back to back Adelphi miscues, a service error from Mau and an attack error from Overholt gave Bentley a 25-23 victory and a 2-1 lead.

The fourth set was knotted at nine when a block by Colleen Raga and Hilary Pavels sparked a 9-2 Adelphi run that gave the Panthers a 19-12 bulge. Bentley responded by giving Adelphi a scare and pulling to within five points, 22-17 on an Adelphi error. However, the Panthers responded by closing out the game on a Raga kill to pull even at two games apiece, 25-20.

The fifth and deciding set was all Adelphi as the Panthers moved out to a quick 7-2 before Bentley called a timeout. After the time out Adelphi extended their edge to 11-4 and then claimed the win, courtesy of a Samantha Rico kill, 15-5.

Pavels led the Panthers with a game-high 20 kills and 16 digs, while Emily Dorko added 15 kills and Overholt chipped in nine. Alexandra Kahen had a team-high 19 digs and Bree Popham was one behind with 18, while Heather Mau had a game-high 50 assists.

With the victory Adelphi advances to the semifinals of the Northeast-10 playoffs and Coach MacKnight runs her career record to 100-39 in just four short years at Adelphi.

The Panthers will face-off against #2 seeded Pace University on November 12 in West Haven, Connecticut.