Nov. 22, 2009

Box Score

GREENVILLE, S.C. - In a rematch of last season's championship, College of Charleston swept Furman 3-0 to claim the 2009 Southern Conference Volleyball Championship Sunday afternoon in Alley Gymnasium. With the win, the Cougars snapped the Paladins' 19-game winning streak, the longest in Furman volleyball history.

College of Charleston took the first set by a score of 26-24. Furman had the lead for most of the set and built as much as a four-point advantage, but the Cougars battled back each time and forced seven ties throughout the set. The Cougars took the lead at 24-23 and had a chance to take the match, but an attack error by Katie Robinson tied it for the Paladins. The Cougars once again set up match point, this time on an attack error by Caroline Adams. College of Charleston clinched the set on a service ace by Liza Price. The Paladins hit .209, while the Cougars hit .270, and both teams tallied 16 kills.

The Cougars controlled the second set and won 25-18. College of Charleston notched 17 kills, with seven by Ginny Phillips. Dawley matched her assist total from the first set with 13. Furman trailed by as many as six, but was able to cut it to four with a kill by Alexis Shaffer. With the score 22-18, College of Charleston responded with three-straight points to win the set. Kelly Kirby led the Paladins with four kills. The Cougars posted a .298 attack percentage to Furman's .167.

College of Charleston clinched the third and final set by a score of 25-22. The Cougars earned the first four points of the third set, but Furman got on the board with three-straight points of its own. One point proved to be as close as the Paladins could get as the Cougars held the advantage throughout the match. College of Charleston earned match point at 24-22, but Furman answered with a kill by Kelly Kirby. A kill by Elyse Chubb clinched the set and the championship for the Cougars.

"We didn't execute as well as we would've liked to today," said Furman head coach Michelle Young. "We kept fighting, but we couldn't get our offense going the way we wanted to, and we missed some crucial serves. We're trying to stay optimistic that we could get a shot at an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Southern Conference has never had two teams make the tournament, but we are hopeful that our great season will speak for itself when the committee is making the decision."

The Cougars claimed their league-leading sixth conference championship, the first since 2007. The College of Charleston's sweep in the final is the first 3-0 decision since the Cougars defeated Georgia Southern 3-0 in the 2002 championship.

The Cougars were led by Ginny Phillips, who tallied 16 kills and recorded a .414 attack percentage. For her efforts Phillips was named tournament MVP. All-tournament team selection Sarah Havel recorded nine kills. Cole Dawley, who was also named to the all-tournament team, added seven kills and hit .636, while Elyse Chubb posted eight kills.

All-tournament selection Natalie Braun guided Furman with eight kills, hitting .231 and recording 13 digs. Chandler Ambrester also tallied eight kills, while Caroline Adams and Kelly Kirby had seven each. Kelsey Salava, the SoCon Player of the Year, had 31 assists, while Paladin senior Stephanie Smith had five digs and earned a position on the all-conference team.

The Paladins finish the season 26-4, Furman's winningest season since 1996 when the Paladins also posted 26 victories.

2009 All-Tournament Team

Maja Jechorek, Appalachian State

Sheriden Stangohr, Samford

Natalie Braun, Furman

Stephanie Smith, Furman

Sarah Havel, College of Charleston

Ginny Phillips, College of Charleston

Cole Dawley, College of Charleston

2009 Tournament Most Outstanding Player

Ginny Phillips, College of Charleston