Catholic Box Score
Juniata Box Score

HUNTINGTON, Pa. – The No. 2 seed Susquehanna volleyball team went up 1-0 defending champion and No. 1 seed Juniata but ultimately fell 3-1 to the Eagles in Saturday evening's Landmark Conference match.

The Crusaders (19-19) advanced to the Landmark Conference championship match courtesy of a 3-0 defeat of Catholic in consecutive 25-22 decisions in Saturday afternoon's semifinal match, also held at Juniata. Susquehanna (19-19) then dropped a 3-1 decision (25-20, 18-25, 11-25, 9-25) to the Eagles (25-7).

Juniata's first-set loss was the Eagles' dropped set in a conference tournament since the 2001 Commonwealth Conference championship match.

In the championship match, Emily Carson (Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) had 10 kills to go along with seven digs. Kate Reese (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro Area) racked up 17 digs, two assists and two service aces. Rookie Julia Caruso (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley), meanwhile, had 21 assists against the Eagles.

SU took the first match against Juniata 25-20. The score was tied 10-10 but that was the last time the Crusaders did not hold the lead as they went on to the win, which was clinched a kill by Carson.

Susquehanna fell 25-18 in the second set and 25-11 in set three. The Crusaders led 2-1 early on in the third set but that was the last time they led in that set in part because the Eagles rattled off stretches of 10, five and six unanswered points.

The Crusaders did not have a rally in them, falling 25-9 in the decisive fourth set. SU led 1-0 but failed to hold another lead for the remainder of the set.
 
In the semifinal matchup, the Crusaders won each set over the Cardinals (25-9) by scores of 25-22.

Carson finished with a double-double against Catholic by recording a team-high 22 kills, a .513 attack percentage and 10 digs. Senior Natalie Cicioni (Frackville, Pa./North Schuylkill) registered 12 kills and a .500 attack percentage.

Caruso finished the match with 47 assists and Reese recorded 23 digs for the Crusaders.

SU finished the season 19-19 with a 5-1 mark in conference play.