September 7, 2002

UNC WILMINGTON DOWNS GARDNER-WEBB 3-1;
OHIO TAKES WIN FROM FURMAN IN FIVE

GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- The Holiday Inn Express Downtown Invitational wrapped up Saturday evening with UNC Wilmington defeating Gardner Webb 3-1, and Ohio downing Furman 3-2. With the victory the Bobcats of Ohio went undefeated in the Invitational, while second place Furman posted a 2-1 mark to move to 4-3 on the year.

In match one of the afternoon session the Wilmington Seahawks improved to 2-5 on the year with a 30-26, 25-30, 30-24, 30-23 win over the Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb. Paige Marvin, Jennifer Mais, Lindsay Moffitt, and Adrienne Moore all tallied double figure kills for UNCW while Moffitt added 18 digs and Marvin contributed 16. In addition, setter Bea Gerevich paced the team with 48 assists, and two service aces, while adding a block solo and a block assist to the effort.

The Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb were led by Talia Ogle's 16 kills, while Laura Murfee and Kristie Brinkley each contributed 10.

In the final match of the day, Furman went up on Ohio two games to one, but the Bobcats stormed back to win the final two games and take the match 22-30, 30-26, 21-30, 30-19, 15-9. Katie Smith topped the Ohio effort with 15 kills, but 10 of 11 players contributed at least one kill in the victory. In addition, the Ohio team recorded 92 digs, including 19 by Smith, and 13 each by Jessica Jones and Lindsay Judice.

The Lady Paladins were led by senior Abby Simon's (Simpsonville, S.C.) 18 kills, while Laura Bush (Kingsport, Tenn.) added 17 and Amber Montague (Plano, Texas) contributed 14. Senior Carrie Rowley tied her personal best with 28 digs, while Julia Fredrickson (Dallas, Texas) recorded a career high eight blocks. Setter Michelle Cauldwell (Satellite Beach, Fla.) rounded out the trio of Lady Paladin personal bests with 51 assists in the five game match.

Three members of the Ohio squad and two Lady Paladins earned all-tournament honors for their work over the weekend. Abby Simon and Carrie Rowley took all-tournament laurels for Furman, while Ohio team members Katie Smith and Briana Adamovsky earned all-tourney, and Laura Hageman earned tournament MVP.

Holiday Inn Express Downtown Invitational All Tournament Team

Talia Ogle, Gardner-Webb

Bea Gerevich, UNC Wilmington

Katie Smith, Ohio

Briana Adamovsky, Ohio

Abby Simon, Furman

Carrie Rowley, Furman

Tournament MVP -- Laura Hageman, Ohio