Cougars, Dukes Earn VB Title Match Berths

11/17/2017 6:22:00 PM

Tim McDonnell

2017 Volleyball #CAAChamps Central

Box Score | Highlights

#1 College of Charleston 3, #5 Hofstra 2 (21-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-21,15-6)

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Devon Rachel had a career-high 24 kills and added 13 digs and three blocks to propel top-seeded College of Charleston past fifth-seeded Hofstra, 3-2, on Friday night in the second semifinal match of the 2017 CAA Volleyball Championship at James Madison’s Sinclair Gymnasium.

The Cougars (27-4), won their 15^th straight match overall and earn a spot in Saturday’s championship final versus third-seeded James Madison (22-5) at 4:05 p.m. It will be the fourth title match appearance for CofC since 2013 and first since 2015. Charleston won the CAA crown in its inaugural season in the conference during the 2013 campaign.

Jane Feddersen and Krissy Mummey both reached double-digit kill totals with 12 and 11, respectively, for the Cougs, whose 27 wins are their most in a single season since 2012. Fedderson hit a whopping .611 percent and chipped in seven blocks, while junior Allison Beckman, the CAA Setter of the Year, collected 55 total assists and 16 digs for the double-double.

Stud sophomore Laura Masciullo had 21 kills to pace the No. 5 seed Pride (18-14), who played in their second straight five-set match of the championship. Freshman Ivania Ortiz collected a double-double with 14 kills and 16 digs, while Michela Rucli added 13 kills and hit .346 percent in the setback. Freshman Sanne Maring finished with nine blocks with eight kills and Luisa Sydlik finished with 55 assists and nine digs.

Saturday's 2017 title match takes place on CollegeSportsLive.com and the College Sports Live mobile app at 4:05 p.m.

Notes: Charleston’s last defeat came on Sept. 24 against Northeastern on the road. The Cougars defeated James Madison both times during the regular season. Both Hofstra and CofC finished with 65 kills each. The Pride were looking for their first CAA title since 2014. Charleston last reached the title match three straight times from 2013-15. Hofstra won the first and third sets and finished the match out-blocking CofC, 15-12. Cougar juniors McKala Rhodes (20 digs) and Kennedy Madison (nine kills, six blocks) also played well in the victory.

Box Score | Highlights

#3 James Madison 3, #2 Towson 0 (25-17, 27-25, 25-21)

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison avenged a pair of regular season losses versus Towson behind a double-double of 12 kills and 11 digs from junior Bryn Recker to advance to the title match for the second straight year with a 3-0 victory over the second-seeded Tigers in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Volleyball Championship semifinals on Friday evening.

The No. 3 seed Dukes (22-5) move on to Saturday’s championship final looking to defend their CAA crown against top-seeded College of Charleston (27-4). The 2017 CAA Volleyball title match takes place on CollegeSportsLive.com and the College Sports Live mobile app at 4:05 p.m.

Taylor Gail and Kelly Vahos each had eight kills apiece for JMU, which won its 14^th match of the season on its home court. M’Kaela White chipped in seven kills and four blocks and Taylor Austin recorded a match-high 23 digs as well to help Madison sweep the Tigers in the semifinals for the second straight season.

After earning the No. 2 seed in the championship for the second time in the past three years, Towson was dealt with just its fifth overall defeat of 2017 and now sits at 26-5 overall. The Tigers were seeking their first semifinal win since 2005.

TU senior Julymar Otero – the CAA leader with six triple-doubles this season – had another solid outing with seven kills, 10 assists, nine digs, and five blocks in the loss. Junior Jocelyn Kuilan led all players with 15 kills and hit .314 percent with five digs and four blocks, while classmate Anna Holehouse contributed 13 digs.

Notes: Madison is hosting the CAA Championship for the seventh time in program history and has a chance to capture its fifth overall conference title all-time, and second straight. The Dukes have not won a CAA crown on their own home court since 2000. The all-time series between Towson and JMU is now tied, 28-28. The Tigers made their fourth straight appearance in the championship field and fell to 1-3 all-time versus the Dukes in postseason play.

For more information on the 2017 Volleyball Championship, visit our official championship page.

2017 CAA Volleyball Championship – Sinclair Gymnasium, Harrisonburg, Va.

November 16 - Quarterfinals
4:05 PM: No. 3 Seed James Madison 3, No. 6 Seed Elon 2
7:05 PM: No. 5 Seed Hofstra 3, No. 4 Seed Northeastern 2

November 17 - Semifinals
4:05 PM: No. 3 Seed James Madison 3, No. 2 Seed Towson 0
7:05 PM: No. 1 Seed College of Charleston 3, No. 5 Seed Hofstra 2

November 18 - Championship Final
4:05 PM: No. 3 Seed James Madison vs. #1 Seed College of Charleston // College Sports Live/CBS Digital