Generals Earn Automatic Bid into NCAA Tournament

ASHLAND, Va. --- After a three-year hiatus, the Washington and Lee volleyball team is once again the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Champions. The second-seeded Generals defeated fourth-seeded Lynchburg, 3-1, in the ODAC Tournament Championship on Saturday at Randolph-Macon to claim the title.

It is the 13th ODAC title for the Generals (26-9) and the first since 2008. With the 21-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-22 victory over the Hornets (24-10), W&L earned the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.

The Generals lost the opening set in the match to Lynchburg, but rebounded to take the next three to secure the win.

First-year outside hitter Anna Lausberg led the team with a career-high 21 kills. It was the first time she has had at least 20 kills, and was the fifth-straight match she has had at least 11 kills. She also added 14 digs to secure her fifth-straight double-double.

Along with Lausberg, W&L had two other players with double-digit kills. Junior outside hitter M.A. Boles tallied 19 kills. She also had a team-high 17 digs. First-year right-side hitter Maddie Kosar notched a career-high 14 kills.

After their play play in the championship and the two previous matches, Lausberg, Boles and Kosar all made the ODAC Tournament All-Tournament Team, along with Megann Grimes from Bridgewater College, Aricquel Payne and Molly Deacon from Lynchburg, and Hillary Jessee from Randolph-Macon.

With her 19 kills, Boles improved her single-season total to 453. It is the fifth-highest single-season total in W&L history as she passed Susan Gaillard's 452 in 2003. Boles is one kill behind Emily Wolfing's 454 in 2004 for fourth. Michelle Chastain holds the all-time record with 475 in 2002. Boles also moved her career total to 1,292, which is the fourth-best mark in program history. Wolfing is in third with 1,490.

Junior setter Meghan Meleski recorded a double-double in the contest with 29 assists and 14 digs. First-year libero Kasey Cannon controlled the back row for the Generals with 16 digs.

Sophomore outside hitter Aricquel Payne and senior middle hitter Rebecca Loftis led the offense for the Hornets. Payne had 16 kills and 14 digs, while Loftis had 14 kills on a .433 hitting percentage.     

W&L last played in the NCAA Tournament in 2010. The Blue & White defeated Mt. St. Joseph in the first round, 3-1, but lost to Emory, 3-1, in the second.

The Generals will find out who and where they are playing during the NCAA selection show on Monday, November 5, at 11:00 am at ncaa.com.

2012 ODAC All-Tournament Team
Megann Grimes, Bridgewater
Aricquel Payne, Lynchburg
Molly Deacon, Lynchburg
Hillary Jessee, Randolph-Macon
Anna Lausberg, Washington and Lee
M.A. Boles, Washington and Lee
Maddie Kosar, Washington and Lee

--- This release is courtesy of the Washington and Lee sports information department. ---
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