NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – In a battle of the top two seeds for the 2013 Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Volleyball Championship, No. 2 College of New Rochelle defeated No. 1 St. Joseph's College, 3-1 (25-17, 25-23, 24-26, 25-19) at the CNR Wellness Center on Sunday afternoon.
The Blue Angels (22-11) avenged a straight-set loss to the Lady Bears (14-8) in the regular season and captured their first title since 2010, where they also defeated St. Joseph's for the title on their home floor.
New Rochelle was paced by Tournament MVP junior Megan King (New City, N.Y.) who finished with a 16-kill, 15-dig double-double in the title game, while also adding four aces and a block. The three-time HVIAC Player of the Week put down a tournament-high-tying 31 kills and recorded a pair of double doubles in both matches. Freshman Marissa Armstrong (Scottsdale, Ariz.) contributed 17 kills and 18 digs in the championship game.
St. Joseph's was led by sophomore Lauren GaNun (Breezy Point, N.Y.) who landed 17 kills to share match-high honors with Armstrong and senior Megan Moran (Syosset, N.Y.) added 16 kills.
The championship featured a very evenly played match with 21 ties and 11 lead changes, but it was the hosts who forced the regular season champions to play catch up for most of the match and made the most of their 12-3 home record heading into the finals.
Both squads advanced to the championship game with straight-set victories in the energetic semifinals, running side-by-side. St. Joseph's defeated Pratt, 3-0 (25-21, 27-25, 25-22), while New Rochelle bypassed The Culinary Institute of America, 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-20) in the other semifinal.
After guiding her team to their second-staight undefeated conference season and regular season championship, St. Joseph's College head coach Kathleen O'Neill was named 2013 Coach of the Year, as selected by the coaches in the conference, in the post-tournament ceremonies.
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2013 HVIAC Women's Volleyball Championships
Date: Sunday, October 27, 2013
Site: The College of New Rochelle
Semifinals
#1 St. Joseph's def. #4 Pratt, 3-0 (25-21, 27-25, 25-22) | Box Score
#2 New Rochelle def. #3 Culinary, 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-20) | Box Score
Championship
#2 New Rochelle def. #1 St. Joseph's, 3-1 (25-17, 25-23, 24-26, 25-19) | Box Score
Tournament MVP
Meghan King, New Rochelle - Jr., Outside Hitter, New City, N.Y.
Tournament Champions
The College of New Rochelle
Regular Season Champions & Tournament Runner-Up
St. Joseph's College
2013 Coach of the Year
Kathleen O'Neill, St. Joseph's