Rivier Volleyball to Host Saturday's GNAC Championship After JWU Upsets Top Seed Emmanuel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TOURNAMENT BRACKET

Fourth-seeded Johnson & Wales University went on the road Thursday night to upset top-seeded Emmanuel College, 3-1, in the 2014 GNAC Women's Volleyball Tournament semifinals. Also on Thursday, second-seeded Rivier University held firm against third-seeded Simmons College, 3-1, and will now host Johnson & Wales Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. for the GNAC Championship. 

#4 JOHNSON & WALES 3, #1 EMMANUEL 1
BOSTON, Mass. - The No. 4 seeded Wildcats upset the top-seeded Saints Thursday night, 3-1 (25-23, 18-25, 25-22, 25-21) at Emmanuel's Jean Yawkey Center.  Senior outside hitter Alyssa Drapeau (Biddeford, Maine) slammed down 17 kills to lead the visitors to the upset win and a trip to the GNAC Finals.

Drapeau added 16 digs and six blocks while junior Paula Cadavid (Pawtucket, R.I.) had nine kills and a match high 20 digs for the Wildcats.  Sophomore Marissa Bunnewith (Millbury, Mass.) recorded a match-high 10 blocks for the Wildcats who notched a remarkable 25 blocks in the victory.  Junior Kellen Tensen (New Canaan, Conn.) had 42 set assists, 14 digs and three blocks for JWU.

Cassie Chruscielski paced Emmanuel with 11 kills and 12 digs while Shannon Dudley notched 35 set assists and 18 digs in the loss for the Saints.

In the opening set, Johnson & Wales raced out to the early 8-3 lead after a block by junior Lauren Cordts (Amherst, N.H.) and Tensen.  The Wildcats capitalized on an attacking error by Emmanuel midway through the set to take their largest lead, 18-10.  Emmanuel rallied and cut the JWU lead to 24-23 on a kill by Danielle Rose, but it wouldn't be enough as the Wildcats held on for the 25-23 victory and the 1-0 lead in the match.

The second set saw back and forth action with Emmanuel holding an 11-9 advantage midway through the set.  The host Saints led by six points several times throughout the remainder of the set before taking the 25-18 win to knot the match at 1-1.

In the third set, neither team had more than a three point lead with Johnson & Wales taking the 22-21 lead late in the set on a block by Cordts and Tennsen.  The Wildcats then outscored the Saints 3-1 down the stretch and capped off the 25-22 win on a kill by Cadavid to take the 2-1 lead in the match.

The fourth set had JWU control the action early and go up 9-5 after a service ace by Cadavid.  The set remained close and was tied 16-16 before a 4-1 run, capped by an attacking error by Emmanuel gave the Wildcats the 20-17 advantage.  JWU then took control down the stretch and capped off the 25-21 win on a kill by Cadavid to earn the 3-1 match victory.

With the win Johnson & Wales improves to 17-15 overall while Emmanuel drops to 24-12 on the year. The Wildcats advance to the GNAC Championship on Saturday, November 8th when they will travel to Rivier for the finals at 1:00 p.m.  The match will be a rematch of the 2010 GNAC Championship.

#2 RIVIER 3, #3 SIMMONS 1
NASHUA, N.H. - The Raiders were able to take the 3-1 win Thursday night by scores of 25-17, 25-12, 24-26 and 25-13 at the Muldoon Center.

The Raiders received standout efforts from sophomores Dana Mott (Medway, Mass.), Lauren Silverman (Chelmsford, Mass.) and Molly McCormack (Ballston Lake, N.Y.). All three reached double-digit kills as Mott led the way with 16. Silverman totaled 15 kills and a .583 hitting percentage with McCormack chipping in 11 kills and 12 digs. Junior Emily O'Reilly (San Francisco, Calif.) dished out 43 assists in four set win while classmate Lyndsey Sweeney (Coventry, R.I.) collected 8 digs and 5 service aces. Silverman also had a tremendous night along the net with 8 total blocks, four of the solo variety.

Simmons saw junior Nicole Aberghini (Northborough, Mass.) and freshman Amber Peterson (Las Vegas, Nev.) hammer down 10 kills apiece this evening. Sophomore setter Andalyn Duke (Litchfield Park, Ariz.) tallied 30 assists and junior Chanel Thomas (Phoenix, Ariz.) led the game with 13 digs. Sophomore Abby Hart (Westfield, Mass.) added three kills and a block solo in the season ending loss. 

This marks the third consecutive year that Rivier has been fortunate enough to host the GNAC Championship and it also marks the program's 11th appearance in the conference title game in the last 15 years. Rivier is 5-5 in GNAC Championship games, including winning two of the past three.

Johnson and Wales (16-6, 8-3) and Rivier (26-6, 10-1) have matched up in the GNAC Championship game four previous times with an even 2-2 split. Rivier captured victories in 2007 and 2008, while falling to the Wildcats in 2002 and 2010.

Earlier this season, the Raiders were able to travel down to Providence, Rhode Island and take a 3-0 victory home back on October 18th by scores of 25-18, 25-19, 25-19.

There will be live video of Saturday's GNAC title game available free of charge at gnac.ezstream.com. 

Quarterfinals - Tuesday, November 4
Match 1: #1 Emmanuel 3, #8 Lasell 0 | BOX
Match 2: #4 Johnson & Wales 3, #5 Saint Joseph | BOX
Match 3: #3 Simmons 3, #6 Norwich 1 | BOX
Match 4: #2 Rivier 3, #7 Anna Maria 0 | BOX

Semifinals - Thursday, November 6
Match 5: #4 Johnson & Wales 3, #1 Emmanuel 1 | BOX
Match 6: #2 Rivier 3, #3 Simmons 1 | BOX

Championship - Saturday, November 8
Match 7: #4 Johnson & Wales at #2 Rivier - 1:00 p.m.