Oct. 4, 2005

Box Score

The Eastern University Volleyball team, ranked 21st in the nation, entered tonight's match with a perfect 20-0 record. Neumann's Knights, with a roster loaded with young players, came into Eastern's gym looking to knock of the 8 time defending PAC champions. The young Knights competed on every point and showed flashes of brilliance, but in the end the experience and talent of the hosts overwhelmed their young contenders.

The Eagles jumped to a quick lead in the first game when senior setter Erin Meredith took a tight pass and dumped it right into the chin of an unsuspecting Knight. After pushing the advantage to 8-4 the Eagles watched their lead evaporate on three kills and a solo block by Neumann's first year standout middle Julia Tarlowski. After a side out, the Eagles Earned five straight points.

After side outs took the score to 16-10, the hosts went on the decisive run of the match serving for seven straight points. A Neumann hitting error set up two consecutive kills by sophomore outside hitter Meghan McCalip. Neumann pushed to 14 points with a side out and an earned point before a hitting error ended game one at 30-14.

Eastern hit .469 with 17 kills and just 2 errors while pressuring Neumann into a .000 hitting percentage in game one. Game 2 started with three consecutive Eastern points and a great dig from Lyon set up the fifth Eagle point on a perfectly placed tip from McCalip. From there the hosts jumped to a 9-4 advantage that they would not relinquish.

Eastern stretched its lead to 11 points before the Knights put together a run to cut the advantage to 23-16. A huge slide stopped the Knight run and killed any momentum they had gained. Eastern won six of the next eight points to take the second game 30-18.

The third set saw the Knights loosen up and push to an early advantage despite an enormous kill by Hildebrand on the third point of the match. Neumann was the first team to 10 as the Eagles made a few errors and Julia Tarloski (Malvern, PA/Bishop Shanahan)was able to put a couple monster kills down early in the match. With the game level at 15, Eastern's Mandy Platt took the ball to serve and the Eagles earned eight straight points including three kills. From there, the hosts put the game away with a solid run of points.

For the match Tarlowski picked up 8 kills, 2 block solos, and 1 block assist. Sarah Miller (Elkton, MD/Elkton) added 5 kills and a block assist and Rachael Sokolovich (Eddystone, PA /Ridley) had 4 kills, 10 digs and a block assist. The loss moves the Knights to 8-11 on the season. Eastern continues their 21 game unbeaten streak moving to 21-0 on the season.