RUTHERFORD, N.J. – No. 5 seed Felician University has earned its second consecutive trip to the semifinals of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Women's Volleyball Championship Tournament. To reach the championship match of the Spring 2021 version, coach John Chang's squad must go through the event's No. 1 seed.
Felician will face 2019 champion Georgian Court University in the CACC semis tonight at 6 p.m. at the GCU Wellness Center on the Georgian Court Campus in Lakewood, N.J. Due to conference policy stemming from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, spectators will not be allowed at the Wellness Center tonight. Georgian Court will offer a free live webstream at https://caccnetwork.com/georgiancourt/?bfplayvid=251694 and a Live Stats feed at https://www.felicianathletics.com/sports/wvball/2020-21/boxscores/20210318_63jd.xml.
Felician (2-5) advanced with a 3-2 (25-22, 15-25, 17-25, 26-24, 15-10) first-round victory over No. 4 seed Caldwell University on Tuesday in Caldwell, N.J. It was the first postseason road victory in program history. Senior Katie Asbery (Mililani, Hawaii/Mililani) put down a career-high 23 kills while sophomore Hannah Chiswick (Pittstown, N.J./Delaware Valley) had 17 kills, nine digs and four aces. Top seeded Georgian Court (7-2) received a bye into the semis of the seven-team event.
Felician is sparked by all-CACC setter and team captain Miquela Martinez (Santa Fe, N.M./St. Michael's HS). A sophomore, Martinez ranks second in the CACC with 8.69 assists per set and ninth with 3.69 digs per set. Asbery's kill average of 3.23 is fifth in the conference entering tonight.
"Our team has been known for our defense in recent years, and that's what I believe tonight will come down to," said opposite hitter Melody Carbonell (Jersey City, N.J./NYC Museum School), who, along with Asbery, is one of two Felician seniors. "Good passes would open up our offense so we could run some quick plays and stay aggressive at the net."
Georgian Court (7-2) was 6-0 in CACC play this season and is 3-2 at home. CACC Co-Player of the Year Kinsy Haschke (Mont Belvieu, Texas/Mont Belvieu), a junior outside hitter, hits .215 with 2.86 kills and 2.83 digs per set, and junior setter Faith Bennett (Reno, Nev./Galenna) was also an all-conference selection.
"GCU has always been an exciting team to play," Carbonell said. "They're athletic and they've got quite a few hard hitters."
The Lions won the Spring 2021 regular-season meeting between the schools, 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-20), on February 24 in Rutherford, N.J. GCU leads the all-time series, 21-0. The Lions and Golden Falcons are meeting for the first time in the CACC Tournament.
More information about the Spring 2021 CACC Women's Volleyball Championship tournament is available at https://caccathletics.org/sports/wvball/2020-21/releases/3161stRd.
Tonight's winner will take on top the winner of tonight's Concordia (N.Y.) College/Holy Family University semifinal in Philadelphia. The Spring 2021 CACC Championship Match is slated for Saturday, March 20. Felician is making its fifth CACC tournament appearance overall and is seeking its first championship.
