For Immediate Release: November 10, 2003

Contact: Chris Gondek, SUNYAC Publicist

Cortland Claims Seventh Volleyball Crown in Eight Years

CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Cortland Red Dragons captured their 12^th SUNYAC title and seventh in the last eight years Saturday with a 3-1 victory over defending champion Oneonta. The Red Dragons earn the automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament and will play Friday at NYU against the winner of the match between Nazareth and St. Joseph’s (NY).
In the championship match, Oneonta took game one 30-12 and looked poised for the upset. Cortland, however, regained its composure and won the next three games 30-19, 30-26, 30-19 to win the title. Freshman outside hitter Katie Brody (Apalachin/Vestal) led the way for the victors in the finals with 12 kills and 13 digs. Cassandra Auth (East Patchogue/Bellport) played a strong match for Oneonta finishing with 13 kills, 9 assists and 15 digs.
Both Cortland and Oneonta had tough roads to the finals, as each team survived 3-2 matches in the semifinals. Cortland was taken to five games by Brockport, the second seed in the West. After dropping game four 30-22 to the Golden Eagles, the Red Dragons recovered to pull out the victory with a 15-9 win in the decisive game five. Brody recorded a double-double (13K, 11D) and Katie Pietrzak (Rochester/Greece Arcadia) added 11 kills, eight blocks, and seven digs for Cortland. Brockport was led by Lyndsey Celeste’s (Clarence/Clarence) 50 assists, Lori Kreamer’s (East Patchogue/Bellport) 40 digs, and Shannon Munn’s (Livonia/Churchill) 17 kills.
Oneonta trailed Fredonia, the top seed in the West, in their semifinal match 1-0 but won games two and three 30-17 and 30-28 to gain the two games to one advantage. The Blue Devils came back to win game four 30-22 before the Red Dragons took the deciding game five 15-10 to gain a spot in the championship. Lacey Musso (Wading River/Shoreham-Wading River) registered 13 kills, 31 assists and 25 digs and Jill Meehan (Albany/Guilderland) and Kristine Clark (Jackson Heights/St. John’s Prep) combined for 35 kills for Oneonta. Heather Martin (Allegany/Allegany-Limestone) recorded 12 kills and 24 digs and Liz Geist (Alden/Alden) added eight kills, nine digs, and three blocks for Fredonia.

2003 SUNYAC Women’s Volleyball All-Tournament Team

First Team Honorable Mention
Cassandra Auth, Oneonta Liz Geist, Fredonia
Katie Brody, Cortland Paulette Kowalski, Brockport
Kristine Clark, Oneonta Jennifer Maziarz, Plattsburgh
Jamie McMullen, Cortland Shannon Munn, Brockport
Lacey Musso, Oneonta Cherisse Rehman, Geneseo
Katie Pietrzak, Cortland Liz Scahller, Fredonia