WILMINGTON, Del.- The Caldwell University women's volleyball team battled back after falling in the opening set to defeat the Jefferson Rams 3-1 to win their third Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Championship.
 
The Cougars secure the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Championship, which will take place the first weekend of December. The DII women's volleyball bracket will be announced on Monday, November 20 at 7:30 pm and will be streamed live via ncaa.com.
 
The Cougars improve to 24-7 overall, while Jefferson drops to 26-7.
 
The championship match was a rematch of the 2016 CACC finals, which Jefferson came out on top 3-0. It was an epic battle between the two top teams in the conference as each team won their respective division this season.

The Cougars bounced back from a first set loss to take the 2017 CACC title. The Rams took the opening set 25-18 but Caldwell rallied back. The Cougars won three straight hard-fought sets, 25-22, 25-23 and 25-19.
 
Caldwell was led by Tournament MVP senior Katrina Janssen (Seville, Australia), who tallied 26 kills, 15 digs, two aces and three blocks (one solo). Senior Taryn Auyong (Honolulu, Hawaii) posted 12 kills, 11 digs and two aces.
 
Sophomores Kathleen Compagno (Orland Park, Ill.) and Avery Stanechewski (Tampa, Fla.) each totaled four kills and three blocks in the win.
 
Freshman Marina Schlaepfer (Aurora, Colo.) added two kills and three blocks, while freshman Chiara Chiappalone (Vecchiano, Italy) finished with four kills and two blocks. Senior Gabrielle Bennett (San Antonio, Texas) chipped in 20 assists and six digs, while junior Alyssa Ayala (Wantagh, N.Y.) recorded 23 assists, two aces and 13 digs. Senior Jessica Mitchell (Plainfield, Ill.) led the Cougars with 23 digs along with seven assists.
 
In addition to Janssen, Compagno and Mitchell earned CACC All-Tournament honors.
 
Head Coach John Titus, in his sixth season, has guided his team to his first conference title and the program's third CACC Championship. Caldwell won the CACC titles in back to back seasons in 2010 and 2011.
 
With the win, the Cougars lock up the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA DII Championship. The women's volleyball DII selection show will be streamed live on Monday, November 20 at 7:30 pm. To watch Monday's selection show, click here.