(Bronxville, NY) - During an emotional, roller coaster ride of a day for the Mount Saint Vincent Women's Volleyball team, the Dolphins proved once again how far they have come in a year. Despite falling for the second consecutive season to St. Joseph's in the Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference (HVWAC) Championship Game, just getting to the Final proved to be yet another accomplishment for what proved to be an outstanding team as the Mount's grit and determination was tested like never before against Sarah Lawrence in the HVWAC Semifinals earlier in the day.

Sarah Lawrence, the third seed, came out on a mission to reach the Conference finals for the first time, and they nearly did just that. Only days after losing 3-2 to the Mount, Sarah Lawrence stormed by the Dolphins during the first two games, 30-24 and 30-27, and appeared to be on the verge of victory. However, an unbelievable comeback by Mount Saint Vincent saw the Dolphins win three straight games and the match, 3-2. Mount Saint Vincent won the third game, 30-25 and the fourth game, 30-18 before a doninating effort during the fifth game gave the Mount a 15-6 win to advance to the Championship Match.

For the Mount, junior Edeana Martinez (Bronx, NY/St. Catherine) and freshman Michelle Dedvukaj (Bronx, NY/St. Catherine) had the hot hands as has been the case all season. Martinez registered 13 kills, while Dedvukaj did the same and added 13 digs for her sixth double-double of the 2006 season. Also for the Dolphins, senior Jessica Thorn (Farmingdale, NJ/Colt's Neck HS) and freshman Bridget Leonard (Poughkeepsie, NY/Lourdes) combined for an outstanding 29 assists.


The Mount victory set up a #1 vs. #2 showdown with the Lady Bears of St. Joseph's, but the top-seeded Lady Bears proved to be too much and swept the match, 3-0, winning all three games with 30-16 scores. Martinez led the Mount with seven kills, while senior Roxanne Predergast (Westhampton Beach, NY/Center Moriches HS) added six kills and Dedcukaj registered five. 

Mount Saint Vincent finishes the 2006 season with a17-11 record after finishing 14-19 a year ago and await news on a first-ever ECAC tournament bid.