Green Knights Top Beloit, Head to NCAA Tournament

From Sports Information Director, November 7, 2009 | Women's Volleyball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - St. Norbert College advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the sixth time in program history with a three-set win over Beloit College in the title game of the Midwest Conference Tournament at Schuldes Sports Center.

The Green Knights (24-9), who beat Beloit 25-20, 25-20, 25-20, will play in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year and fifth time in eight years. Beloit finished its season 24-6. St. Norbert is now 19-0 at home under coach Bethani Thibodeau and has won its last 20 matches overall at Schuldes Sports Center.

St. Norbert held steady leads throughout the match. The Green Knights led 17-10 in the third set before a last-ditch Beloit rally cut the score to 18-16. Following a time out, St. Norbert immediately got a side out and salted the match away.

St. Norbert hit .144 in the match, getting 38 kills with 17 errors on 146 attempts. Sam Jungbluth had 11 kills, while Lauren Meehan had eight kills. Catherine Guido had 24 digs, while Meehan added 19 digs. Laura Ayello had a match-high 33 assists.

Beloit hit .066 for the match, netting 33 kills with 23 errors in 152 attacks. Laura Toth had 12 kills, while Mary Parker had nine kills. Caitlin O'Leary had 30 assists, and Esther Chiu had 19 digs.