CALDWELL, N.J. - Senior middle blocker Keesha Francois (Elkins Park, PA/Cheltenham) registered seven kills and six total blocks to lead the Caldwell College volleyball team to a three-set sweep of Chestnut Hill College, 25-20, 25-12, 25-21 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference match Saturday afternoon at the George R. Newman Center. The win wrapped up the regular season for the Cougars, who improve to 21-7 overall and 17-2 in league play. The Griffins fall to 5-24, 2-17 CACC.
Senior outside hitter Justine Pecora (Clifton, NJ/Mt. St. Dominic Acad.) had four of Caldwell's 16 kills in the first set to lift the Cougars to a 25-20 opening-set win. The second set saw Caldwell hit .348, with sophomore right side Amber Mosher (Flanders, NJ/Mount Olive) recording three kills en route to a 25-12 victory. In the final set, the score remained close throughout, as neither team led by more than four points. With the Cougars leading 23-21, a kill by sophomore outside hitter Susan McDonough (Saline, MI/Saline) and a Chestnut Hill attack error gave Caldwell the set and the match.
The victory allowed the Cougars to tie the program record for overall wins in a season (21), and break the mark for CACC wins in a season (17). Both records were held by last year's squad that finished 21-12 overall and 16-3 in the conference.
Pecora, left, led all players with eight kills while hitting .438. Mosher matched Francois with seven kills, and junior setter Lauren Roth (Findlay, OH/Findlay) delivered 25 assists in the first two sets. Cassie Benson paced the Griffins with six kills and a .417 hitting percentage.
The match marked the final regular-season home contest for seniors Francois, Pecora, defensive specialist Kathleen Estes (Lyndhurst, NJ/Lyndhurst), outside hitter Cory Roesing (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) and defensive specialist Lauren Herzog (Lodi, NJ/Lodi). The five players made up the program's first recruiting class and went 63-54 over four years, including 59-30 over the past three seasons that saw the Cougars win three straight CACC North Division crowns. Junior middle blocker Titilola Alao (Ossining, NY/Ossining), who will graduate this spring and complete her playing career this season, also was recognized before the match.
Caldwell hosts Nyack College on Tuesday, Nov. 9 in the first round of the CACC Tournament. The match is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Newman Center.
CC - 25 25 25
CHC - 20 12 21
