RELEASED:  Friday, November 16, 2007

Warhawks Dethrone Juniata, Will Play For Third National Title

Bloomington, Ill.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater thumped defending national champion Juniata College (Pa.) 30-28, 30-28, 30-25 in the semifinals of the NCAA Division Women’s Volleyball Championship at the Shirk Center on Nov. 16.

The Warhawks (36-4) will play the winner of Washington University (Ohio) (31-5) / Wittenberg University (Ohio) (38-0) for the national championship on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.  UW-Whitewater won national titles in 2002 and 2005.

The lead exchanged hands several times in game one before UW-Whitewater scored three straight to go up 16-12 for what would prove to be the largest lead of the game.  After a point for each team, Juniata scored four in a row to knot the game at 17-17.  Still tied at 21-21, UW-Whitewater scored two to make it 23-21 and Juniata called time out.  The Eagles scored four in a row after returning to the floor to take a 25-23 lead.  UW-Whitewater did not regain the lead until 29-28 on a block by Carley Polk and Abby Schultz.  Polk ended game one with a kill.

Early in game two, the teams stuck together, with UW-Whitewater finally making a run to take a 13-8 lead.  UW-Whitewater maintained the five point margin to 15-10, but Juniata closed the margin to 16-15.  The lead exchanged hands until UW-Whitewater led 27-26.  With UW-Whitewater ahead 28-26, Alyse Karls' service ace put UW-Whitewater up 29-26.  A Warhawk service error and a kill by Amber Thomas of Juniata put the Eagles back within 29-28.  Lazotte's kill ended the contest and put UW-Whitewater up 2-0 in games.

Juniata came out quickly in game three, taking a 5-1 lead, but UW-Whitewater scored five of the next six points to tie the game at 6-6.  Tied 11-11, Schultz and Kelly Sorensen had kills to give the Warhawks a 13-11 lead.  Juniata got within 16-15, but the Warhawks scored four straight to increase the bulge to 20-15.  Kills by Lazotte and Polk pushed the margin to 23-18.  The closest Juniata could come the rest of the way was 27-24.  Schultz ended the match with a kill.

Juniata and UW-Whitewater had met twice earlier this season, with Juniata winning both.  Juniata won 3-0 on September 15 in a tournament in Saint Louis, and 3-1 on October 12 at a tournament hosted by UW-Oshkosh.