Tribe to Play JMU in CAA Tournament Quarterfinals on Friday

11/14/07 10:30AM

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The fourth-seeded William and Mary volleyball team will begin its quest for the CAA Tournament title when it squares off against fifth-seeded James Madison in a quarterfinal match on Friday at 5 p.m. in Newark, Del. The winner of Friday’s contest will advance to the semifinals and play top-seeded Delaware on Saturday at 5 p.m.

The Tribe (14-14, 8-6) clinched a spot in the tournament with a 3-0 triumph against Towson in its regular-season finale last Friday. Sophomore Bryana Carey led the Green and Gold with 10 kills on .556 hitting, while freshman Erin Skipper finished with a match-high 13 put-aways. Freshman Ginny Bray also played well and totaled eight kills on a .583 attack percentage, and junior Kim Mount added a match-high 36 assists.

As a team, W&M finished the regular season ranked third in the CAA in digs (18.38 dpg) and fourth in blocks (2.46). Additionally, the squad was fifth in assists (13.16 apg) and opponent hitting percentage (.186).

Individually, Bray ranks third in the conference in blocks (1.17 bpg), while junior Molly Bohman is fifth with 1.12 bpg. Mount ranks third in the league with 11.72 apg, and junior Jill Nowadly is sixth with 4.38 dpg.

James Madison closed out the regular season with losses in three of its final four contests and has a 16-12 record overall and a 7-7 mark in conference play. The Dukes are led by Allyson Halls, who ranks second in the CAA in kills (4.38 kpg) and fourth in blocks (1.15 bpg). Setter Lauren Miles has also been a key contributor, as she ranks second in the league with 12.48 apg.

The Tribe leads the all-time series against JMU, 38-30, and has won three of the last five meetings. However, earlier this season the Dukes defeated the College, 3-0, in Harrisonburg. In that contest, sophomore Jillian Brown led W&M with a team-high 11 kills.

The College has compiled a 31-10 record in the conference tournament since it took its present form in 1985. In those 22 years, the Tribe has brought home eight championship trophies, while finishing second three times.