Scranton Upends Catholic In Semifinal Upset

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senior middle blocker Valerie Naranjo (Brodheadsville, Pa./Pleasant Valley) had 16 kills, six digs and two total blocks to lead The University of Scranton past Catholic University, 3-0 (30-28, 30-16, 33-31) in the semifinals of the Landmark Conference tournament Wednesday evening at the DuFour Center.

The Royals, now 25-10, also received 13 kills and seven total blocks from junior left-side hitter Jaclyn Bromley (Norristown, Pa./Archbishop Carroll), 12 kills and 23 digs from junior middle hitter Abby Barrett (Towanda, Pa./Towanda Area) and 27 digs from senior defensive specialist Meaghan Curtin (Hicksville, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) to move into Saturday's championship match against defending NCAA Division III champion Juniata College, which defeated Moravian College, 3-0, in the other semifinal match, in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, at a time to be announced.

Junior setter Jenn McKeighan (Newtown Square, Pa./Marple Newtown) finished with 49 assists for the Royals, who avenged an earlier 3-1 loss to Catholic University on September 23.

Scranton will be playing in its second straight conference tournament championship match. The Royals lost to Lycoming, 3-2, in its final season as a member of the Freedom Conference of the Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation last November.

The Royals, the number three seed in the Landmark Conference tournament, lost a 3-0 decision to Juniata on October 7. The Eagles enter Saturday's championship match with a 32-4 overall record and a number two ranking by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).