(HUNTINGDON, PA)—Mount Union saw its season end with a 3-1 (25-17, 25-17, 22-25, 25-17) loss at No. 1 in the nation Juniata (PA) College in the second round of the Mid-Atlantic Regional of the 2009 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship Friday night in Huntingdon, PA.
Juniata (33-3 overall) advances to Saturday's regional final against Eastern (PA) University, who knocked off Haverford (PA) College 3-0 in the other semifinal.
The Purple Raiders making their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance see their season end with a record of 23-7.
Sarah Parker (Geneva/Geneva) had nine kills, Melissa Mahnke (North Royalton/North Royalton) and Monica Hupertz (Willoughby, Hills/Beaumont) each had eight kills while Julie Radigan (Olmsted Falls/Olmsted Falls) had 26 assists to lead the offense.
Mahnke finishes her career with a school-record 1,584 kills.
Sarah Dean (Strongsville/Walsh Jesuit) and Nicole Baka (Streetsboro/Streetsboro) had 25 and 14 digs respectively on defense.
Juniata runs out to a 17-7 lead then held off a Mount Union rally for a 25-17 win in the first set.
The Eagles again pulled away in the second set leading 20-10 before the Raiders tried another come back and lost again 25-17.
Trailing 15-11 in the third, Mount Union appeared in trouble, but the Raiders scored four straight to tie it at 15-15. Juniata led 20-19 before the Raiders closed the set on a 6-2 surge to win 25-22.
Mount Union would lead early in the fourth set 6-3 before Juniata would go on a 10-4 run to take a 13-10 lead and never trail again as they went on to the deciding 25-17 win.
