NCAA appearance short-lived for Panthers in Redlands

REDLANDS, Calif. - The Chapman University women's volleyball team was eliminated from the NCAA Division III West Region championships with a three-set defeat 25-16, 25-8, 25-12 at the hands of tournament host University of Redlands at Currier Gym on Thursday night. The No. 6-seed Panthers could not repeat their victorious five-game performance the last time they visited the Bulldogs in October.

Chapman (18-14) had entered the tournament a winner in seven of its final nine regular season matches, including a 3-2 win over the Bulldogs in Redlands last month. However, early deficits in all three sets left the Panthers flustered and unable to find any rhythm. Chapman didn't take its first - and only - lead in the match until it led 4-3 in the third set. That was short lived as No. 3 seed Redlands (23-5) scored the next two points and rolled on from there.

The Panthers had no answer for Redlands' strong net play as the Bulldogs recorded 12 team blocks in the three sets, including six from Emily Capozzoli (one solo, five assists). Capozzoli also had nine kills in the match, but the Bulldogs were paced by OH Jackie Hamilton who led all players with 15 kills and 21 digs.

Redlands jumped out to big leads in Games 1 and 2, scoring eight of the first 10 points in each set. In Game 2, the Bulldogs then rattled off 10 consecutive points to stretch an 8-3 lead into 18-3 and there was no looking back for the SCIAC champs. The Bulldogs advance to face conference rivals La Verne on Friday in the second round of the tournament.

Chapman was led by senior OH Erin Leja who finished with seven kills. Senior libero Linda Ly finished with a team-high 18 digs.

The Panthers fell to 2-6 in six NCAA Division III appearances. Chapman has reached the second round of the postseason twice, most recently in 2004.

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/wvball/2009-10/stats/cu-ur2.htm