Women's Volleyball Juniata Athletic Communications

Juniata Volleyball Wins 44th Consecutive Conference Championship, Defeats Scranton 3-2

HUNTINGDON, Pa.- In Division III women's volleyball, the matchup between the Juniata College Eagles and The University of Scranton Royals is no surprise to the Landmark Conference. The two sides have met in the championship match in Huntingdon in each of the past four years. The Eagles have won each of those four matchups, dropping only one set, a 3-1 win in 2022. Tonight, the sides met again, on the same stage, in the same place. It did not disappoint. The Eagles won a remarkable match in five sets, 3-2 (21-25, 25-13, 25-16, 20-25, 15-6).

The Royals brought the heat in the first set. Jumping out to a 3-6 advantage, anyone who thought the Eagles would breeze by the Royals was quickly proven wrong. The Eagles didn't gain a lead in the set until they went on a 4-0 run, gaining a 12-11 advantage in the midst of it. In a set with six different ties, the Royals were able to come out on top, 21-25.

Juniata found its rhythm in set two. After going down 1-3, the Eagles won eight of the next ten points to take a 9-5 lead, one which they wouldn't give up for the rest of the set. After dropping a point, another 8-2 run ensued, and the Eagles were in the home stretch to win their first set of the night. Scranton resisted, but another 4-0 run pushed the Eagles to a strong position, leading by nine points and being only two away from set point. Audrey Muth made the final kill in a night to remember for her, clinching set two, 25-13.

The third set was key for either team to put the pressure on the other in the rest of the match. With the stakes getting higher, neither team gained an edge early. The first lead of more than three points came after a 14-14 tie, where the Eagles found some momentum and began stringing several points together. A remarkable 9-1 run put them within striking distance of set two. This time, Hannah Webber made the final kill, her fourth straight point for the Eagles, who won the set 25-16.

Set four included eight ties, with neither team holding more than a two-point lead for the first 20 points. At 10-10, Scranton went on a 1-5 run to go up four, but the Eagles responded with a 4-0 run to tie the game again, 15-15. Promptly, Scranton went on another 0-4 run to re-establish their advantage. Down 15-19, the Eagles won three of the next four, cutting the deficit to two; however, they were never able to retake a lead. Scranton took set four, 20-25. 

Here is a breakdown of the 21 points that decided the match in set five:

Four Scranton attack errors in the first five points put the Eagles up 4-1. The Royals' lone point came on the third of the five, making a kill on the outside. Scranton executed to make it 4-2. Maggie Hayes spiked one down the middle to make it 5-2, and then Muth contributed to seven straight points for the Eagles, a run that put them up by 10 points, 12-2.

Three service aces, an assist, and three forced attack errors by Muth marked a remarkable run for Juniata. Scranton then won two points on an Eagles tip out and attack error. Emily Farrell delicately dropped one in over the Royals' blocks. Scranton made a kill over the middle, and Farrell spiked one just too far. Juniata led 13-6. Scranton served one just out of bounds. 14-6. On match point, Isabelle Fekula serving, Scranton tried to spike it again over the middle, but Farrell and Webber were there to block it down to the floor. 15-6, the Eagles were Landmark Conference champions. Again.

In a match where she never left the floor, Muth, the match's kill leader, totaled 16. Her performance earned her the Landmark Championship Match Most Valuable Player Award. President Jim Troha presented the trophy to the Eagles, their 18th consecutive Landmark Conference championship, and 44th consecutive conference championship overall. Webber and Maggie Hayes also made notable contributions in the kills category, notching 13 each. Elizabeth Cleveland made 56 assists, and Isabella Rushing added 20 digs, both leading the match in their respective categories. 

The Eagles closed out the Landmark Conference playoffs with a 26-5 overall record and another unscathed season in conference play. Their next match will be in the first round of the NCAA tournament, opponent, time, and location TBA.