September 18, 2004
WAC Reaches 10 Wins for First Time in 10 Years
Shorewomen Go 3-1 at Maryland Div. III Tourney

FROSTBURG, MD -- The Washington College volleyball team went 3-1 and took fourth place overall at the Asics Maryland Division III Tournament held yesterday and today at Frostburg State University. With their three wins this weekend, the Shorewomen improved to 10-4 on the season, marking the first time the team has reached 10 victories in one year since the 1994 season. The Shorewomen defeated Villa Julie and lost to tournament champion Frostburg State in pool play on Friday, placing them in the "Gold Bracket," and then downed both St. Mary's (MD) and McDaniel on Saturday to claim fourth place overall.

Match Scores
Washington College 3, Villa Julie 0 (30-26, 30-28, 30-26) STATS
Frostburg State 3, Washington College 0 (30-14, 30-15, 30-23) STATS
Washington College 3, St. Mary's (MD) 0 (30-17, 30-19, 30-22) STATS
Washington College 3, McDaniel 1 (30-27, 23-30, 30-15, 30-28) STATS

The Shorewomen opened the tournament on Friday with a 30-26, 30-28, 30-26 sweep of Villa Julie College. Junior middle hitter Marcie McConville (Westminster, MD/Westminster) tallied 10 kills, four block solos, and three block assists in the win. Sophomore setter Laura Shand (Sykesville, MD/Liberty) put up 32 assists, 18 digs, and six kills, while junior outside hitter Abigail Benson (New London, PA/Avon Grove) added seven kills and 10 digs. Freshman middle hitter Katherine O'Brien (Severna Park, MD/Severna Park) finished with seven kills against only one error in 21 attempts.

Washington's second match on Friday was a 30-14, 30-15, 30-23 loss to host Frostburg State. Shand had a double-double of 18 assists in 10 digs in the loss, while Benson punded down a team-high six kills.

In their first match on Saturday, the Shorewomen swept past St. Mary's (MD), 30-17, 30-19, 30-22. The win snapped a nine-match losing streak to the Seahawks that dated back to 1993. McConville contributed nine block assists, while sophomore outside hitter Nanna Kozemchak (Falls Church, VA/St. Stephen's & St. Agnes) tallied two block solos and six block assists. Benson turned in a double-double with 14 digs and 11 kills. Shand finished with 23 assists, Greenback scooped out 12 digs, and junior outside hitter Lauren Ford (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) pounded down seven kills.

The Shorewomen came into their final match of the tournament with a 1-26 all-time record against McDaniel, but downed the Green Terror in four games, 30-27, 23-30, 30-15, 30-28. Washington's only previous win against McDaniel came in 1996 and the Shorewomen has lost their last nine matches in a row to the Green Terror. Shand tallied her second triple-double of the year in the win and came within two blocks of a quadruple-double, finishing with 12 kills, 29 assists, 17 digs, and eight blocks (one solo, seven assists). Greenback and Ford each put up a team-high 13 kills, while Benson paced the squad in digs with 29. Greenback added 22 digs, while Kozemchak scooped out 21 and also contributed two block solos and seven block assists.

Shand represented the Shorewomen on an All-Tournament team for the second consecutive weekend, having earned the same honor at last weekend's Gettysburg Battlefield Classic.

Not only are Washington's 10 wins this season its most since 1994, but they also equal the Shorewomen's victory total from the previous three seasons combined.

The Shorewomen open Centennial Conference play Tuesday with a 7:00 p.m. home match against Swarthmore.