Dec. 3, 2009

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Unseeded Lee (Tenn.) and sixth-seeded Georgetown (Ky.) were victorious in Pool F Thursday in the final day of pool play action at the NAIA Volleyball National Championship Presented by Siouxland Sports Medicine Foundation in the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena. Lee and Georgetown advance into single-elimination action beginning Friday. Friday and Saturday’s action will be video-streamed at www.watchnaia.com.

Lee closed out pool play at 3-0 after a 25-14-25-21, 19-25, 25-11, win over Lubbock Christian (Texas). Four Lady Flames finished the match with double-figure kills. The Krsmanovic duo of Milica and Vedrana led the charge with 17 and 14 kills, respectively. Jacky Toruno finished with 13 kills, followed by Stephanie Todd with 10. Directing the offense were Gretchen Higdon with 29 assists and Kelsey Leffew dished out 26. Todd recorded a double-double with 21 digs to lead the defense. Four other Lady Flames notched double-figure digs in the match. Elissa Loynes had 11 kills for Lubbock Christian in the loss.

The win pushes Lee’s season record to 38-5, while Lubbock Christian, who bows out with a 0-3 pool record, closes out the 2009 campaign with a 27-8 mark. Courtney Yonke closed out her Lady Chaparral career with 3,018 career digs, which stands as an LCU career record and is third among all-time career NAIA leaders.

In a match that would send one team packing, Georgetown seniors Erica Janszen and Allie Bertke powered the Tigers past seventh-seeded Columbia in three sets, 25-19, 27-25, 25-19, to advance to single elimination. Janszen and Bertke each finished the match with 14 kills, hitting .375 and .400, respectively. As a team, Georgetown registered a .362 clip, committing only nine hitting errors. The offense’s director, Amanda Philpot, handed out 33 assists. She also contributed defensively with 10 digs. Amy Barmore led the team with 14 digs. Columbia’s Maria Omondi had 10 kills in the loss.

Georgetown now owns a 42-3 record after going 2-1 in pool play. The Cougars, who went 1-2 in pool play, close out their campaign at 38-2.

Single elimination pairings will be posted Thursday at the conclusion of pool play here.