Tuesday, October 31, 2000

HOUNDS TRAVEL TO SUSQUEHANNA FOR PLAYOFF MATCH

BETHLEHEM, PA --- With a third place finish in the Commonwealth Conference, the Moravian College women's volleyball team clinched its fifth postseason berth and will travel to second seeded Susquehanna University for a Commonwealth Semifinal on Wednesday, November 1st at 7:00 p.m.

Moravian, which finished second at the Elizabethtown College Halloween Classic last weekend with a 3-1 record, enters the playoffs with 20-8 overall after a 5-2 Commonwealth Conference regular season record.  Moravian lost in three games to Susquehanna during the regular season.  Wednesday's other semifinal has fourth seeded Messiah College and top seed and NCAA Division III national powerhouse Juniata College.  Juniata has not lost to a school in the Middle Atlantic Conference since 1981, a string of 240 matches.

The Greyhounds, who have participated in the last three NCAA Division III Tournaments, have been led on the court by freshman outside hitter Kim Zipf (Wyomissing/Holy Name HS).  Zipf, named the Commonwealth Conference Player of the Week on Monday for her performance last week, leads the Greyhounds with 362 kills and 410 digs in 99 games.  Zipf also has a .276 hitting percentage, 28 blocks and 22 service aces this fall.  Senior middle hitter Becky Falk (Allentown/Dieruff HS) has a team high .281 hitting percentage this season with 277 kills and 67 blocks while senior middle hitter Sara Young (Tunkhannock/Tunkhannock HS) leads the Greyhounds with 75 blocks.  Young has added 213 kills and a .250 hitting percentage.

Freshman setter Amy Lawrence (Gettysburg/Delone Catholic HS) has been running the Greyhound offense on the court with 896 assists.  Lawrence, who also leads Moravian with 54 service aces, has added 260 digs and 16 blocks.  Freshman setter Andrea Frankenfield (Emmaus/Emmaus HS) has 211 assists and 82 digs while senior defensive specialist Emily Shonk (Ligonier/Ligonier HS) has 42 service aces and 287 digs.  Junior outside hitter Krystol Kessack (Bethlehem/Liberty HS) has 69 kills and 225 digs this fall.

Freshman right side hitter Shannon McNeil (Reading/Reading Central Catholic HS) has made 141 kills, 200 digs and 35 blocks in her debut season while junior right side hitter Sara Walkiewicz (Bethlehem/Bethlehem Catholic HS) has 131 kills and 219 digs.  Freshman right side hitter Sara Hollenbacher (Reading/Reading Central Catholic HS) had contributed 96 kills.

The winner of the Commonwealth Conference Playoffs receives an automatic berth in the 2000 NCAA Division III Tournament.