2002 CUNYAC / Burger King Women's Volleyball Quarterfinals

Top Four Seeds Advance To The Semifinals

NEW YORK, NY - The teams are set for the 2002 CUNY Athletic Conference / Burger King Women's Volleyball Championship after today's quarterfinal matches at Hunter College. The Championship match will follow the two semifinal matches on Thursday, October 31, also at Hunter. The CUNYAC champion receives an automatic bid to the 2002 NCAA Championships. Admission to the matches will be free. #1 Hunter defeated #8 City Tech 30-8, 30-4, 30-20 The #1 seeded Hawks (19-19) used a balanced attack, led by senior three-time all-star Jezel Rodriguez (Bronx, NY) with 27 assists and 13 aces, to beat #8 seed City Tech 30-8, 30-4, 30-20 in a quarterfinal matchup. Freshman outside hitter Meital Ben-Tovim (Hod-Hasharon, Israel) chipped in with 12 kills while sophomore libero Beth Tuccillo (Brooklyn, NY) added 10 digs. Hunter, riding a 79 consecutive CUNY match winning streak, is attempting to win its seventh straight conference championship. City Tech (2-12) was led by sophomore outside hitter Hiu Mei Lau (Queens, NY) with 4 kills. #2 Lehman defeated #7 Medgar Evers 30-17, 30-20, 33-31 Lehman, the tournament's #2 seed, swept #7 seeded Medgar Evers in a CUNY quaterfinal match 30-17, 30-20, 33-31. The Lightning (17-4) were led by seniors Madelayne Garcia (New York, NY) with 19 kills and Sakeena Esteves (Bronx, NY) with 12 kills. Sophomore setter Esmerelda Camacho (New York, NY) added 28 assists. Medgar Evers (14-20), led by sophomore middle hitter Tammy Chase (Brooklyn, NY) with 10 kills, finishes the season with the most wins in school history. #3 CCNY defeated #6 York 30-27, 30-15, 30-21 Led by the top hitter in Division III, Erja Vettenranta, #3 seed CCNY beat #6 seed York in a CUNY quarterfinal matchup 30-27, 30-15, 30-21. The sophomore from Jurva, Finland, had 29 kills and 10 digs for the Beavers (19-8). “She's a complete player," said CCNY head coach Robert Pichardo of his outside hitter, who is on the verge of breaking the NCAA single season kills per game record. “She's never at a loss for motivation on the court. It's enjoyable as a coach to see someone who can execute and perform at such a high level." York (8-16) was led by junior setter Sheryl Bawayan (Woodhaven, NY) with 14 assists while sophomore middle hitter Maria Montenegro (Jamaica, NY) tallied 11 digs. #4 Baruch defeated #5 John Jay 30-27, 30-18, 30-28 In the most competitive match of the evening, #4 Baruch slipped past #5 John Jay 30-27, 30-18, 30-28 in the last CUNY quarterfinal of the day at Hunter College. The Bearcats (8-11) were led by freshman setter Safia Mian (Flushing, NY) with 25 assists and senior outside hitter Marina Balina (Omsk, Russia) with 16 kills and 12 digs. John Jay (14-14) was led for the final time by senior outside hitter Kerry Koslosky (Auburn, NE) with 12 kills and 11 digs while sophomore outside hitter Beata Chojnowska (Staten Island, NY) totaled identical numbers of 12 kills and 11 digs.

Schedule Schedule for Thursday, October 31, 2002 AT Hunter College Semifinals @ 5:00 PM: #1 Hunter vs. #4 Baruch and #2 Lehman vs. #3 CCNY Championship Match @ 6:30 PM