CANTON, N.Y.- The Daemen College women's volleyball team defeated the SUNY Canton Kangaroos in the first round of elimination play (quarterfinals) at the United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Championships, sending the host team packing in a straight-sets 25-12, 25-14, 25-20 victory. The Wildcats, who have now won a season-high ten matches in a row, improved to 18-9 on the year and will advance to the semifinal round of the tournament.
 
Anchoring Daemen's win was a number of strong performances. Seniors Kaley Vazquez (Kenmore, N.Y./Kenmore West), Brittany Anthon (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) and Paige Tilert, juniors Chelsea Turcer (Alexander, N.Y./Alexander Central) and Ye Wang (Beijing, China/Hachioji Jissen) and freshman Amber Dryzmala (West Seneca, N.Y/St. Mary's of Lancaster) all stood out in the Wildcats victory.
 
Vazquez had 20 assists to lead Daemen, and Turcer was right behind her with 17 assists of her own. Tilert paced the Wildcats with 19 digs, and Wang had 11 kills to tie for the team lead in that category. Dryzmala posted 14 digs and seven kills, while Anthon matched Wang's 11 kills and completed her double-double with 10 digs.
 
Mackenzie Mynter, Kelsey Cornish and Robyn Carroll each had solid games for Canton in their loss. Mynter had 18 assists and Carroll posted 13 digs to lead the Kangaroos in those categories, while Cornish had a team-high five kills.
 
With the win, Daemen advances to the semifinals of the USCAA National Championships. They will play the Rochester College Warriors tomorrow, Nov. 2 at 12 p.m, with the winner advancing to the championship game at 4 p.m. that same Saturday. The Warriors, the sixth seed in the tournament, defeated the Carlow University Celtics in four sets in the quarterfinals to advance. On the year, Rochester is 25-22.