(Union, NJ) - Seeking a major tune-up prior to the upcoming Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference (HVWAC) playoffs, the Mount Saint Vincent Women's Volleyball team embarked on the Cougar Invitational at Kean University this weekend to face four teams that would prove to be a challenge as the Mount met with Skyline Conference power USMMA-Kings Point, current CUNY leader Hunter College, CUNY stronghold Brooklyn College, and NJAC playoff hopeful, Kean University. If the Mount's performance during a 2-2 weekend proved anything, it showed that the Dolphins are ready to challenge for the HVWAC post-season crown. Mount Saint Vincent enters the final week of the regular season with a 12-10 overall record and will seek to finish the regular season above .500 for the first time in four years.
The Dolphins opened play on Friday with a 3-1 win over USMMA-Kings Point, marking the second time this season the Dolphins defeated their Skyline Conference rival. Mount Saint Vincent won the first two games, 30-25 and 30-24, before the Mariners rallied to win the third game, 30-20. However, the Mount ended things with a thrilling 34-32 win during game four. The story of the match was the play of St. Catherine Academy alums Edeana Martinez (Bronx, NY/St. Catherine) and Michelle Dedvukaj (Bronx, NY/St. Catherine) as the duo combined for 29 of the Mount's 50 total kills, and Dedvukaj added 12 digs for the double-double. Mount Saint Vincent won the match with a smart defensive game as they registered 75 total digs with Roxanne Predergast (Center Moriches, NY/Westhampton Beach HS) amassing a match-high 22 digs.
Two hours later, the Dolphins battled CUNY leader Hunter College for the second time in 10 days, and for the second straight match, the Hawks earned a 3-0 sweep, winning the match 30-23, 31-29, and 30-24. However, this match was far closer than the score indicated as Mount Saint Vincent was in every game until the very end each time. Martinez was terrific once again, amassing 12 kills and three blocks, while Predergast and Tara Mead (Pearl River, NY/Pearl River HS) each registered a team-high 14 digs.
Day two of the tournament saw the Dolphins get off to a fast start, dominating Brooklyn College, 3-0 as the Dolphins swept the match with scores of 30-18, 30-26, and 30-28. The win was a far more balanced one for the Dolphins as no Mount Saint Vincent team member registered more than nine kills. Martinez slammed home nine kills and Dedvukaj added eight, but seven other Dolphins were also credited with kills. Two Dolphins registered double-digit totals in assists as freshman Bridget Leonard (Poughkeepsie, NY/Lourdes) had 14 assists, and senior Jessica Thorn (Farmingdale, NJ/Colts Neck HS) added 10. Predergast was outstanding once again as she had 19 digs.
The win over Brooklyn College set up the match of the weekend as Mount Saint Vincent battled host Kean every step of the way through five thrilling games. Kean actually raced out to a 2-0 lead with 30-27 and 30-15 wins, but the Mount rallied to win the next two games, 30-17 and 30-26. The deciding game proved to be a heart-stopper as the teams went back and forth before Kean prevailed with a 17-15 win. With Dedvukaj on the sidelines for most of the match with a leg injury, Predergast and junior Meghan Flaherty (Yonkers, NY/Yonkers HS) stepped in to fill the void with outstanding matches. Predergast led the Dolphins with 10 kills and added 17 digs for her first double-double of 2006, while Flaherty added seven kills and a block. Martinez had another big match with eight kills and two blocks.
For her efforts, Martinez was named to the All-Tournament team.
This week, Mount Saint Vincent finishes the 2006 regular season with two HVWAC matches. On Tuesday, the Dolphins host Marymount at 7:00 p.m. for Senior Night as Predergast and Thorn are honored prior to their final regular season home matches. Two nights later, the Dolphins travel to Sarah Lawrence for a match that will determine the #2 seed for the upcoming HVWAC playoffs.
