Nov. 13, 2005
Final Stats
FAIRFIELD, CT (November 13, 2005) - The Sacred Heart volleyball team clinched their first-ever trip to the Northeast Conference Tournament by beating St. Francis (NY) in three games Sunday evening in the season finale for both teams. The Pioneers finish the regular season 6-20 overall and 3-5 in the league, earning the #5 seed in the six team tournament and will face Central Connecticut in the opening round next weekend at top-seeded Long Island University.
The Pioneers trailed the Terriers for most of game one, finding themselves chasing six points at 22-16. SHU battled their way back to even, 24-24 before SFNY took another lead at 27-24. Tying the score once again, at 27-27, the Pioneers jumped in front 29-27 but needed to play two extra points to win 31-29 after the Terriers tied it at 29-29. In game two, the Pioneers sprinted out in front and controlled play winning 30-16. Game three was more of the same with SHU withstanding a late Terrier rally to come away with a 30-22 victory.
Junior Brenda Bailey (Costa Mesa, CA) led the way with a monster performance in her last home game in the red and white. Bailey hammered down 20 kills and hit .378 (20-6-37) in the match adding six service aces and eight digs to her box score. Also in double digits in kills was sophomore Christine Duffy (Massapequa, NY) with 12 and senior Heather Brooks (Regina, SK), also in her final home game, who posted 11 with a solo block.
Senior Michelle Clarke (Baltimore, MD) passed out 46 assists running the offense and got a double double with 15 digs in her final home match. Freshman Katie Thomas (Wappingers Falls, NY) picked-up 11 digs from her libero position.
The Terriers, 0-28 and 0-8 in the NEC, got nine kills from Jadelyn Castillo. Senior Megan Lundquist had 25 assists and eight digs.
Before the match, Clarke, Bailey and Brooks were all honored for their contribution to the Pioneer volleyball program both on and off the court. Clarke has been a four year starter that led the team in assists all four seasons and ranks second on the school's all-time list in assists in a match (60), fourth in assists in a season (881) and second in assists in her career (2,906). Brooks transferred from High Point and has the school record for blocks in a season with 72 this year. Bailey transferred from Costa Mesa College and currently leads the team in kills with 286 and aces 33.
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