Nov. 22, 2008

Article courtesy of Walsh (Ohio) Sports Information Office

North Canton, Ohio - Walsh (29-10) defeated Lee University (29-10) in four games in a NAIA National Tournament opening round match before 562 at Alumni Arena tonight.  The Cavs will now head to Sioux City, Iowa, to begin Pool Play on December 2.

All four games were tight, with Lee winning game one 25-21.  Walsh's 9-6 early lead would be their biggest of the game.  Walsh's last lead came at 17-16, and the last tie was at 19-19.  Lee took the lead for good at 21-20 and their 25-21 win marked their largest lead of the game.  The Cavs knotted the match with a 25-22 win in game two.  In another tight game that featured eight ties and four lead changes, it would be Walsh who would rally down the stretch to even the match at 1-1.  Walsh led 19-16 when Lee rallied to take a 21-20 lead.  Lee also led 22-21 when the Cavs’ Hilary Dattilo (5-10, Sr., Mason, OH/HS) put the ball down to tie the game at 22-22.  Walsh would then score the next three points to record the win.

The Cavs used a 12-point run to take control of the match in game three.  With Lee leading 12-9, an Erica Parker (6-0, Sr., Concord, OH/Mentor) kill continued a run that led to a 25-18 Walsh win.  Game four was tight as well, with neither team leading by more than two points, until Lee took a 16-13 lead.  Walsh would tie the game at 16, with additional ties a 17-17 and 18-18.  Walsh took a 19-18 lead on a Caitlin Whealy (6-2, Sr., Avon Lake, OH/HS) kill, and then ran off four more points to lead 23-19.  Walsh led 24-20 when Lee came to life with a four-point rally that tied the game at 24-24.  Lee took their final lead at 26-25, when the Cavs tied the game at 26-26.  A Megan McDonald (5-10, Sr., Kirkland, IL/Rockford Lutheran) kill put Walsh up 27-26, which was followed by a Natalie Borland (6-0, Jr., Kent, OH/Roosevelt) kill that gave Walsh a 28-26 win and the match.

Erica Parker led the Cavs with 16 kills.  Megan McDonald added 13 and Caitlin Whealy 11.  Jessica Schmidt (5-8, Fr., Michigan City, IN/HS) handed out 47 assists and Ashley Yuhas (5-9, So., Elyria, OH/HS) led with 18 digs.  Natalie Phillips (5-10, Fr., Wooster, OH/HS) added 16 digs and Amy Police (5-5, Jr., Perry, OH/HS) 10.  Stephanie Todd (5-10, Fr., Colorado Springs, CO/Air Academy) led Lee with 14 kills.  Gretchen Higdon (5-6, Fr., Ooltewah, TN/HS) handed out 27 assists and Milica Krsmanovic (6-0, Jr., Bosnia) 23.  Christeena Bertinetti (5-11, Sr., Midlothian, TX/HS) had 17 digs.