Colonial States Athletic Conference

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Cabrini volleyball team made its first appearance all-time in the NCAA Tournament Thursday night against No. 2 Juniata College. The Cavaliers’ record-setting 2009 season came to a close with a 3-0 loss versus the Eagles at the Kennedy Sports & Recreation Center.

Under third-year head coach Eric Schaefer, Cabrini totaled a program-best 24 overall victories this season and captured its first Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) title in program history. The Cavaliers earned the No. 1 seed for the CSAC Tournament after the team’s first ever undefeated regular season against conference opponents.

The Blue & White battled against Juniata Thursday in the first round of the national tournament. After the Eagles opened the match with a 25-9 win, Cabrini suffered narrow 25-20 and 25-23 losses in games two and three, respectively.

Senior setter Lizzie Williams (Newark, Del./Saint Mark's HS), one of three Cavaliers who played in their finals collegiate contests against the Eagles, posted a team-best 17 assists. She also added three kills and three digs.

Williams, named to the CSAC First team with classmate Traci Beltz (North Wales, Pa./Christopher Dock HS) and CSAC Player of the Year junior Stephanie Recklau (Holland, Pa./Council Rock HS South), tallied the 2,000^th assist of her Cabrini career earlier this season against Swarthmore College. She finishes her four-year Blue & White run with 2,810 career assists, the most in program history.

Beltz led the Cavaliers’ offense against Juniata, totaling a club-high eight kills. Freshman opposite Megan Ryan (Conshohocken, Pa./Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic HS) posted five kills, and Recklau recorded four kills on 14 attempts.

Sophomore libero Courtney Abel (Roslyn, Pa./Archbishop Wood HS) led the Cabrini backline with 12 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Alexis Doss (West Grove, Pa./St. Elizabeth's HS) aided Abel with 11 digs.

Steph Strauss ignited the Juniata efforts, posting a double-double with 25 assists and 10 kills. Alexa Ebert added nine assists.

Senior opposite Kate Conahan (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan HS) joined Beltz and Williams in their final matches with the Cavaliers. Conahan played in all three sets against the Eagles Thursday.

Cabrini finishes the regular season with a 24-7 overall record. Schaefer has posted a 65-26 mark in three seasons with the Cavaliers.