November 5, 2007

LAURINBURG, N.C.—Senior libero Erin Haugen (Ft. Mill, S.C.) continued to build on her record setting digs total with 15 digs to lead host No. 7 seed St. Andrews Presbyterian College to a 3-1 (24-30, 30-28, 30-20, 30-20) victory over No. 10 seed Queens University of Charlotte in Monday’s first round match of the 2007 Conference Carolinas Volleyball Tournament.

The Knights, who improved to 12-24 on the season, advance to the quarterfinals of the Conference Carolinas Tournament against No. 2 seed Limestone College on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. in Gaffney, S.C. The Royals conclude their season with a 3-32 record.

Haugen, who passed the 2,000 career digs mark in St. Andrews last road match, was honored before today’s showdown for reaching this incredible milestone. Haugen becomes only the 23rd player in NCAA Division II history to surpass the 2,000-dig total. Haugen, who received a signed volleyball from her coaches and teammates, increased her total to 2,016 digs by scooping up 15 more digs in tonight’s match.

Queens opened with a strong performance in the first game. After jumping out to a 5-0 lead, the Royals were able to double up their lead to 15-5. St. Andrews rallied back with a 14-5 run to get to within one at 20-19 but the visitors were able to hold onto their lead and pulled out the six-point victory.

The Royals were poised to take a commanding two-game advantage by grabbing the same early 5-0 advantage to begin the second stanza. Queens lead grew to as many as eight but trailing 19-7, the Knights rattled off a 17-5 rally to tie the match up for the first time at 24 apiece. The Royals regained a late 28-26 lead but St. Andrews tied the contest at 1-1 by scoring the final four points of the second stanza.

Maintaining a two-point cushion at 11-9 in the third, St. Andrews broke away from Queens with a 6-0 surge during freshman Leah Davison’s (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.) service turn. The Knights continued to pull away and a senior Lindsey Stansbury (Morgan City, La.) kill finished off the 10 point win, which was their biggest lead of the game.

St. Andrews finished off the Royals with another convincing 10-point victory in the fourth to move to the quarterfinals of the league tournament for the second straight year.

Stansbury led the Lady Knights statistically with her 18th double-double of the season with team-highs of 17 digs and 14 kills. Sophomore Galina Podolsky (Raleigh, N.C.) matched Stansbury with her own 14 kills. Senior Tara Lemieux (Panama City, Fla.) was the third St. Andrews’ netter to reach double digits in digs with 12.

Sophomore Jaime Hayes (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) set up the Knights offense with 46 assists while Davison registered a team-highs six block assists a four service aces. Freshman Kelly Williams (Laurel, Md.) chipped in with nine kills.

Junior Keatin McKenzie (Coral Springs, Fla.) led Queens with a 22 kill, 10 dig double-double. Junior Veronica Arenander (Cincinnati, Ohio) was the second Royal to tally a double-double with 12 spikes and 12 digs. Senior Ebony Turner (Charlotte, N.C.) led the visitor’s defense with 24 digs; junior Sarah Burt (Pensacola, Fla.) totaled 45 assists and three aces; sophomore Kristin King (Haymarket, Va.) logged seven kills and five blocks; and freshman Katie Austin (Austin, Texas) followed with four blocks and a team-high four aces.