Mac Freedom Semi Features King’s, Wilkes
Wednesday, October 31, 2001 Page: 2B
The King’s College and Wilkes University women’s volleyball teams will square
off for the third time this season in the semifinals of the Middle Atlantic
Conference Freedom Conference Championships at 7 tonight in Scandlon
Gymnasium.
Tickets, as mandated by the MAC office, are $4 for adults, $3 for seniors
and $2 for students. Children under age six are admitted free. The contest has
no bearing on the Times Leader Mayor’s Cup race since it’s a postseason
meeting.
King’s, the defending Freedom Conference champion, concluded the regular
season with a 28-3 record and gained the top seed with a 5-1 conference mark.
The Lady Monarchs are riding the crest of a 14-match winning streak while
emerging victorious in 19 of their last 20 matches. Wilkes, meanwhile, stands
at 9-14 overall and gained the fourth seed in the playoffs with a 3-3
conference mark. It will be the Lady Colonels’ first MAC playoff appearance
since 1999.
The winner will face the survivor of today’s other semifinal – between
second-seeded Scranton and third-seeded FDU-Madison – at 7 Saturday at the
site of the highest-remaining seed. The winner of the MAC Freedom Conference
will gain an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III National Tournament.
King’s is led by junior setter Katie Baffone. The reigning Freedom
Conference Most Valuable Player has a team-high 1,097 assists with 71 service
aces and 265 digs. Junior outside hitter Faith O’Dell has been outstanding
with 401 kills, 393 digs and 51 service aces. Junior middle hitter Jill
Leibman follows with 226 kills and 72 blocks. Sophomore middle hitter Annie
German adds 204 kills and 72 blocks. Senior outside hitter Aimee Coleman
contributes 200 kills, 189 digs and 41 aces. Senior outside hitter Sandy
Tarabochia posts 177 kills, 428 digs and 31 aces.
The Lady Colonels are led by senior middle hitter Mandy Kehler with 220
kills, 293 digs, 93 blocks and 31 service aces. Freshman outside hitter
Larissa Dobransky follows with 175 kills, 247 digs and 39 aces. Senior
setter/outside hitter Steph Henninger adds 160 kills, 190 digs and 32 aces.
Sophomore outside hitter Kelly Svecz contributes 105 kills and 168 digs;
sophomore middle hitter Corrine Stewart has 89 kills and 64 blocks; while
freshman setter Jeanine Barber has distributed 500 assists.
“Wilkes definitely belongs in the playoffs and although we have beaten
them twice, we are very wary of them and know they are going to come here
ready to play,” said King’s coach Bernie Kachinko. “We will have to play
better, harder, and more consistent than the previous matches as I am sure
Wilkes be on top of their game.”
