LAKEWOOD, N.J. - In a close and exciting championship match, the Caldwell College volleyball team defeated Holy Family University in four sets to capture its second consecutive Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament title Saturday afternoon at Georgian Court University. The Cougars (26-4) won by scores of 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 25-21 to earn the CACC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament. Holy Family, which lost to Caldwell in last year's final, completes its season at 25-11.

The match was a nail-biter from start to finish, as neither team led by more than four points in any of the four sets. The Cougars trailed 23-22 in the first set before scoring the final three points, including an ace by sophomore middle blocker Becca Feczer (Findlay, OH/Findlay) that gave Caldwell a 1-0 lead. In the second set, the Tigers built a 21-18 advantage until a kill by freshman outside hitter Athena Nestoras (Los Angeles, CA/St. Monica) sparked four straight points for Caldwell. Feczer finished off the set again, this time with a kill for another 25-23 win.

With Caldwell taking a 21-19 lead late in the third set, it appeared the match was going to mirror last year's final that was won by the Cougars in three sets. But the Tigers tallied the next five points and held on for a 25-23 victory to extend the match. The momentum stayed with Holy Family in the fourth set, as the Tigers took the lead from the start and stayed on top, building a 21-19 lead. With a fifth set looming, Caldwell caught fire, scoring the final six points to win the set and the match, the Cougars' school-record 13th win in a row. Sophomore middle blocker Kasey Bausch (Bellmore, NY/Holy Trinity) and junior right side Amber Mosher (Flanders, NJ/Mt. Olive) put away the final two kills for the championship.

Junior outside hitter Susan McDonough (Saline, MI/Saline) led the Cougars with 10 kills and a match-high 20 digs to earn Most Valuable Player honors for the second year in a row. Nestoras tied her career high with nine kills, Mosher finished with eight kills and Bausch and senior setter Lauren Roth (Findlay, OH/Findlay) had seven kills apiece. Roth also distributed 37 assists and had 11 digs. Defensively, Feczer racked up eight total blocks, while Mosher and Bausch had three blocks apiece. Bausch and Roth joined McDonough on the all-Tournament Team.

Holy Family was led by Sarah Ambach with 13 kills and three blocks.

Caldwell advances to the East Region Tournament, which begins Thursday, Nov. 17 at a site to be determined. The entire tournament field and site will be announced Sunday night on NCAA.com.

CC - 25 25 23 25
HFU - 23 23 25 21

CACC Volleyball Tournament
Quarterfinals, Tuesday, Nov. 8
Game 1: (N1) Caldwell 3, (S4) Chestnut Hill 0
Game 2: (S2) Philadelphia 3, (N3) Nyack 1
Game 3: (S1) Holy Family 3, (N4) Post 0
Game 4: (S3) Wilmington 3, (N2) Dominican 1

Semifinals, Friday, Nov. 11 (at Georgian Court)
(N1) Caldwell 3, (S2) Philadelphia 2
(S1) Holy Family 3, (S3) Wilmington 1

Finals, Saturday, Nov. 12 (at Georgian Court)
(N1) Caldwell 3, (S1) Holy Family 1

CACC All-Tournament Team
Susan McDonough, Caldwell – MVP
Lauren Roth, Caldwell
Kasey Bausch, Caldwell
Alyssa Keihl, Holy Family
Sarah Ambach, Holy Family
Brittany Olson, Philadelphia
Nicole Wiechecki, Wilmington
Tawney Savage, Nyack
Kelli Reynolds, Post
Kayla Dexter, Dominican
Cassie Benson, Chestnut Hill