No. 6 Juniata (Pa.) defeats No. 7 Thomas More in NCAA Division III regional championship on Sunday

NKyTribune staff

HUNTINGDON, Pa. — The greatest season in the history of Thomas More University volleyball came to an end Sunday afternoon, one victory shy of reaching the NCAA Division III national quarterfinals.

Juniata (Pa.) eliminated Thomas More in the regional championship match by scores of 25-16, 20-25, 25-23, 25-23. The sixth-ranked Eagles (27-3) extended their winning streak to 25 consecutive matches and earned a trip to next week’s national quarterfinals in Pittsburgh.

Emily Mohs collected 19 kills and hit .292 for No. 7 Thomas More, which finished the season with a 33-4 record. The Saints were limited to a .181 hitting percentage for the match, while Juniata attacked at a .203 clip. The Eagles also served up nine aces and held off a late Thomas More rally in the fourth set to claim the regional title.

Jenna Mummert added 18 kills and hit .268 for the Saints, while Madison Krumpelman finished with six kills. Senior setter Jenna Fessler dished out 49 assists in the final contest of her collegiate career.

Victoria Taylor led Juniata with 16 kills. Dejia Danhi collected 10 kills while hitting .385, and she added four service aces. Danhi also had six blocks as the Eagles effectively contained the Thomas More attackers.

Juniata has not lost since dropping a five-set decision to No. 3 Wittenberg on Sept. 8. The Eagles’ other two losses were to top-ranked Calvin (Mich.) and Ithaca (N.Y.) the previous week.

Sunday marked Thomas More’s final volleyball contest as an NCAA Division III member, as the Saints have accepted membership in the NAIA beginning next season. Thomas More — which played as an NCAA Division III independent this season — will compete in the Mid-South Conference in 2019-20.

(Information compiled from Thomas More and staff reports)