VOLLEYBALL GETS CAA TOURNAMENT BERTH DESPITE LOSS

Saturday, November 12

Newark, Del.

James Madison University

Delaware

11/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball

NEWARK, Del. - Freshman Kelly Gibson posted 14 kills and 10 digs to lead the University of Delaware volleyball team to a 3-1 (31-29, 20-30, 30-23, 30-20) win over Colonial Athletic Association rival James Madison on senior night Saturday evening at Viera Court.

Freshman Clar Farwell recorded a double-double to lead the Blue Hens with 10 kills and 14 digs while sophomore Colleen Walsh had 13 kills and eight digs. Taylor notched 12 kills and had five blocks while McGrath posted 11 kills and had a game-high six blocks. Junior Heather Ranck, who is ranked 28th in NCAA Division I with 5.25 digs per game, recorded 18 digs in the victory.

Jena Pierson led the Dukes with a game-high 25 digs, while teammate Kelsey McNamara had a game-high 16 kills to lead the Dukes. Allyson Halls had 15 kills while Krysta Cannon posted 13 digs.

Despite the Blue Hen victory, James Madison will earn a berth in next week's CAA championship tournament, to be hosted by top-seeded Hofstra. The Dukes, 14-12 overall, finished tied with Northeastern at 8-10 in the CAA, but gets the sixth and final playoff berth by virtue of a sweep in the head-to-head meetings with the Huskies.

JMU will face third-seeded Towson at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 18 in Hempstead, N.Y. The 5 p.m. match will pit fifth-seeded Georgia State against fourth-seeded Virginia Commonwealth. Top-seeded and host Hofstra and second-seeded William and Mary earned quaterfinal byes.