VOLLEYBALL WINS DAYS INN INVITATIONAL, HUSSACK THE MVP

Saturday, September 17

Harrisonburg, Va.

James Madison University

Maryland-Eastern Shore

9/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball

HARRISONBURG, Va., Sept. 17, 2005 – James Madison swept Maryland-Eastern Shore in three games Saturday afternoon to capture the JMU/Days Inn Invitational volleyball tournament. The Dukes, like George Mason and Iona, went 2-1 in the tournament, but claimed the title by virtue of their winning percentage for games played during the two-day event.

JMU senior outside hitter Emilee Hussack (Chambersburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley Christian) earned the tournament's Most Valuable Player award for the second straight year. She was joined on the all-tournament squad by senior setter Krysta Cannon (Cedar Park, Texas/Westwood) and sophomore libero Jena Pierson (San Antonio, Texas/James Madison).

The Dukes 3-0 win against UMES gave them an 8-3 games record and a .727 winning percentage for the tournament. Iona finished second with a 7-5 games record for a .583 winning mark and Mason completed the event 6-5, .545. JMU defeated Mason, Mason beat Iona and Iona topped JMU in the round robin. UMES went 0-3 for the weekend.

Iona was represented on the all-tournament squad by senior middle Miki Hogg (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) and sophomore outside Kristain Allain (Orlando, Fla./Bishop Moore). Mason sophomore outside Jaqueline Kohler (Curitiba, Brazil) and UMES sophomore libero Likica Grceva (Natick, Mass./Natick) rounded out the all-tournament honors.

In today's matches, Kohler knocked down 18 kills as Mason (3-6) outlasted Iona (3-7) in four games. Senior outside Natalia Porosa (Scarborough, Ontario) added 15 kills and junior middle Janelle Wilson (Towanda, Kan./Circle) slipped in with 10. Hogg had 14 kills for the Gaels and junior middle Morgan Young (Poway, Calif./Poway) added 11.

The Dukes received career-high kills totals from sophomore middle Lesley Schmidt (Richmond, Va./Godwin) and freshman middle Michelle Johnson (Los Gatos, Calif./Los Gatos) with 11 and 10, respectively, against UMES. JMU used its deep bench while raising its overall record to 7-3. The Hawks (1-8) were paced by freshman outside hitter Chanita Wesley (Minneapolis, Minn./Breck) with six kills.

Day One Results: (Sept. 16)

Iona defeats Maryland-Eastern Shore 30-25, 30-22, 30-12
James Madison defeats George Mason 30-27, 30-28, 30-20
George Mason defeats Maryland-Eastern Shore 30-19, 31-29, 28-30, 30-21
Iona defeats James Madison 30-25, 24-30, 28-30, 30-27, 15-11

Day Two Results: (Sept. 17)
George Mason def. Iona 30-28, 28-30, 30-28, 30-23
James Madiso