Center Valley, PA (November 4, 2009) - The DeSales University volleyball begins its quest for a second Freedom Conference Championship in the last three years tonight when the Bulldogs host FDU-Florham in the semifinals of the Freedom Conference playoffs in Billera Hall at 7:00 pm.
Ticket prices for the match are $5.00 for adults, $4.00 for seniors, and $2.00 for students. All DeSales University students showing up with a school ID will be admitted for free. Children under the age of six will be admitted for free.
Tonight's match marks the third straight year DSU has met the Devils in the Freedom Conference playoffs, with the Bulldogs winning each of the first two meetings. It is also the third time these two teams will play each other this season, with DeSales winning both of the earlier meetings this year. Overall, DSU is 17-8 all-time vs. FDU-Florham, having won three straight in the series.
Leading the Bulldogs will be a balanced attack that features five different players with 100+ kills this season including junior Kylie Fehnel (Nazareth, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) with 234 kills and senior Jen Mellon (Media, PA/Penncrest) with 203 kills. Sophomore Lauren Hickey (Ridley Park, PA/Ridley) has 198 kills, senior Joann Rivera (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom) has 160 kills, and freshman Paige Horrigan (Mohnton, PA/Governor Mifflin) adds 105 kills this season.
Freshman Justine McNulty (Collegeville, PA/Methacton) has done an excellent job distrubting the ball all season and enters tonight's match with 827 assists (8.99 APS), while senior Kerri Andrews (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) leads a strong back-row defensive unit with 475 digs (5.16 DPS).
Leading the Devils is Lauren Brazier with 277 kills and Katlyn Mullane with 230 kills. Marta Matera has 551 digs on the year and Brazier leads the squad with 151 total blocks.
The winner of tonight's match will face the winner of the other semifinal between the top seeded Eastern University Eagles and the #4 seed Wilkes University. The top remaining seed will host the championship match on Saturday, November 7th.
