Aug. 28, 2010
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA - In the finale of the La Salle Invitational, the Explorers notched their first win of the season, defeating Hartford 3-1 (25-9, 19-25, 25-20, 25-22).
“It’s nice to finish out with a win,” La Salle head coach Dave Stever said. “I give credit to the middle hitters. We also had exceptional passing today and Kourtney Clark was in a good rhythm.”
Junior Jacquelyn Mitrovich, who finished the tournament with 23 kills and nine block assists, was named to the All-Tournament team. Other members selected include Valparaiso’s Jenny Pokorny and Katie Britton (also named tournament MVP), Niagara’s Sam Morgan and Michelle James and Kami Nethersole of Hartford.
In the fourth set between La Salle and Hartford, the Explorers recovered from an early 9-4 deficit. They answered the Hawks with ten straight points that included two kills by Lauren Noga, one kill each by Danielle DiMarco and Mitrovich and an ace from server Emily Merrick.
Hartford stayed in the game, though, and briefly took a 21-20 lead after Kami Nethersole dropped one on the Explorers’ side. DiMarco would close the match for the Explorers after she was set up for a kill by Clark.
“This win was a great way to start off the season,” Mitrovich said. “We can only go up from here."
La Salle opened the first set against Hartford with a 5-0 run on the serve of Kelly Scanlon. The Hawks had difficulty stringing together an attack and the Explorers quickly took the set, tallying nine straight points to close out the 25-9 victory. Merrick served up two straight aces while adding three kills for the Explorers.
La Salle put together a flawless attack during the set, hitting .429 as a team while holding Hartford to a -.067 mark.
The second set was a back and forth affair. The Explorers starved off two set points with a kill by Mitrovich and a service ace by Noga, but ultimately fell 19-25.
Scanlon opened the third set with a big kill that dropped just inside the back line. After Hartford tied the game at 10 all, Stever called a time out and energized the team. The Explorers wouldn’t trail again and took the set 25-20.
Mitrovich ended the night with 11 kills and four block assists. Scanlon tallied nine kills and 13 digs. Breanna Mazalewski contributed 16 digs, Clark had 34 assists and Merrick finished the match with four service aces.
In what would be the championship-deciding match, Valparaiso defeated Niagara, 3-1 ( 19-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-20) to take the tournament title. The Crusaders posted a perfect 3-0 record in the tournament.
The All-Tournament team is as follows:
OH Katie Britton (Valparaiso) - Tournament MVP
OH Kami Nethersole (Hartford)
MH Jacquelyn Mitrovich (La Salle)
S Jenny Pokorny (Valparaiso)
S Michelle James (Niagara)
L Sam Morgan (Niagara)
