November 13, 2005
Dowling Wins Championship Over Mercy in Four-Game Battle
SELDEN, NY - Tournament Most Valuable Player
Justyna Michon amassed a match-high 21 kills to lead Dowling
College to a hard-fought 30-24, 27-30, 30-26, 30-25 victory over
Mercy College in the finals of the New York Collegiate Athletic
Conference Tournament. The championship was the second straight and
ninth overall for the Golden Lions, while the visiting Lady Flyers
fell short in their quest for their fourth conference crown.
The upstart Lady Flyers, picked to finish sixth in the NYCAC
pre-season coaches' poll, came out of the gate strong in opening up
a 7-2 lead in the first game. Unfazed, the defending conference
champs took off on a 19-7 run to build a lead and coast to victory.
Irina Belozerova recorded six kills for the Golden Lions while
Monica Herrera and Katiana Dorfleus led Mercy with four each.
Game two started in much the same fashion, with the Dobbs Ferry
contingent grabbing an early 4-1 lead before the hosts rallied to
tie the score at 10-10. This time, however, the Lady Flyers would
have an answer, retaking the lead and extending their margin to
17-12. Dowling rallied to tie the score on three occasions
thereafter, but Herrera capped off a spirited rally with a kill to
knot the match at a game apiece. Belozerova and Herrera each
tallied six kills in game two.
With both teams elevating their play, set three was an even more
spirited affair, with the score being tied 10 times by the time the
set was knotted at 13-13. Dowling appeared to take charge with a
5-1 run, but the Lady Flyers fought back in their own right to grab
a 25-22 lead. The Golden Lions were not to be denied, however,
reeling off eight of the next nine points to take command of the
match. Michon had six kills to set the pace for Dowling, while
Dorfleus and Herrera posted four each for Mercy.
The fourth set was a case of déjà vu as the set was
tied on 15 different occasions, with the last coming at 21-21.
Dowling recorded four of the next five points and this time, Mercy
had no answer as the Golden Lions sealed the deal. Michon and
Belozerova posted five kills apiece for DC, while Mariola St. Fleur
almost single-handedly kept her Lady Flyers in the match with eight
kills.
In all, Belozerova totaled 19 kills to go with Michon's 21, and
Jana Cleveland set the pace with 53 assists. St. Fleur (16 kills),
Dorfleus (15), and Herrera (14) led the balanced Mercy attack,
aided by Simone Forbes' 55 assists and 11 digs. Joining Michon on
the All-Tournament Team were Dowling's Cleveland and Belozorova,
Mercy's Forbes and Dorfleus, along with Tijana Bokic of Bridgeport
and Emine Yilderimer of NYIT.
Both of today's participants will now await word on their status
for the upcoming NCAA Division II women's volleyball tournament.
Dowling finished the season with an undefeated record in the
Northeast Region and will secure the top seed, while Mercy entered
the weekend ranked #4 and will wait for word on their post-season
fate.
#1 Dowling 30 27 30 30 - 3
#2 Mercy 24 30 26 25 - 1
