Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CANTON, N.Y. - With a four-set win over No. 2 Florida College (24-26, 25-20, 26-24, 25-17), the Daemen College women's volleyball team captured its second consecutive United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Championship today at the Roos House on the campus of SUNY Canton.  The Wildcats advanced to the title game by defeating No. 6 Rochester College in straight sets (25-11, 25-11, 25-21) in the semifinal round of the tournament.  Both contests were rematches of Daemen's run to the 2012 title.

With the victories today, Daemen runs its' season-best winning streak to 12 matches in a row, upping their overall record to 20-9, giving the Wildcats, and head coach Mark Parisi, their third consecutive 20-win season.

In the noon semifinal, Daemen dominated the opening two sets, ripping off the first eight points in set one, and the first six points in set two, while cruising to 14-point wins in each frame.  Rochester, which Daemen defeated in straight sets in last season's semifinal match (25-22, 25-17, 26-24), finally got a lead in the third set, but it was short-lived as Daemen raced back to closeout the set and the match victory.

Sophomore Mackenzie Knihinicki (Lakeview, N.Y./Frontier) came through with a career-high seven kills to lead a balanced Daemen offense in the win vs. Rochester.  Ye Wang (Beijing, China/Hachioji Jissen) and Brittany Anthon (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) split 12 kills between them, helping Daemen attack at a .253 clip in the match.

Kaley Vazquez (Kenmore, N.Y./Kenmore West) had a match-high 17 assists while Paige Tilert (Derby, N.Y./Genesee CC) and Amber Drzymala (West Seneca, N.Y./St. Mary's of Lancaster) paced the Wildcats' defensive efforts with 21 and 10 digs, respectively.

Breanna Pelloni led Rochester with eight kills, although the Warriors were limited to a negative hitting percentage (-.036) in the match.

In the championship match, it was the combination of Daemen's First Team USCAA All-Americans, Wang and Lindsey Nowak (West Seneca, N.Y./Immaculata), that powered Daemen to victory.  Wang hammered down 19 kills - her highest total of the tournament - and Nowak added a career-high 17 kills.

A tight contest was expected and that's what transpired.  Neither team could gain more than three points separation in the opening two sets.  Daemen held a 22-19 lead in the opening set, and appeared poised to take the set when the score went to 24-23.  But, the Falcons, eight-time winners of the USCAA national title, rallied back to take four of the last final five points to win the set.

But, that's when Wang and Nowak came alive for Daemen, pushing the Wildcats to wins in the next three sets.  With the title in reach and leading 15-13 in the fourth frame, Daemen used a 9-2 run to establish to biggest gap of the match at nine points (24-15).  The Falcons staved off the loss for two points but eventually fell, sending Parisi, his squad and the Daemen faithful in attendance into a frenzy.

Anthon added nine kills and 12 digs to the Daemen cause.  The Wildcats also got six blocks, five kills and three service aces from senior middle blocker Kaitlin Watchey (Jamestown, N.Y./Jamestown).

Vazquez notched 26 assists while junior Chelsea Turcer (Alexander, N.Y./Alexander Central) added 21.  Tilert matched a season-high with 30 digs.

The match was reminiscent of last year's title match, when Florida College took the first set, but eventually fell in four (22-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-19).  Daemen dropped just two sets throughout the tournament this year, that included four wins in pool play before a sweep of their three single elimination tournament matches.

For her efforts, Wang was named the USCAA National Championships Most Valuable Player.  For the tournament, she averaged 3.89 kills per set while recording a hitting percentage of .463.

She was joined on the all-tournament team by Tilert who totaled 111 digs as Daemen's libero in the tournament.

"This was a tremendous team effort," said head coach Mark Parisi.  "Florida College really wanted to atone for last year's loss and they played their hearts out.  For us to come back stronger after dropping a hard-fought first game is not an easy task, and now we've done it two years in a row in the USCAA championship match."

The coach continued, "Our girls have worked hard all year and they've shown that they can compete with anybody in the country.  To be able to win back-to-back titles is a testament to their resilience, leadership and desire.  Kaley has done a tremendous job preparingt the girls for battle each and every week.  Ye and Lindsey are special players at the net bu what makes them great is the rest of the team.  Paige played phenomenal and Kaitlin served up offense, defense and leadership when we needed it most.  She is definitely our unsung hero."

In a bit of a scheduling quirk, Daemen's season actually continues with four East Coast Conference matches still to play.  Daemen will host Mercy College in the team's home finale next Sunday (Nov. 10) for an 11 a.m. match before finishing the match consecutive road contests at Molloy College (Nov. 15), Queens College (Nov. 16) and the University of Bridgeport (Nov. 17).