ASHLAND, Va. --- The Washington and Lee volleyball team won its third straight ODAC title and the 15th in program history, as it defeated Lynchburg on Saturday, 3-1, in the championship match hosted by Randolph-Macon.
The Generals (27-6) entered the contest as the tournament's third seed, and won the four-set match over the fourth-seeded Hornets, 25-18, 16-25, 25-21, 26-24.
Down 24-21 in the fourth set, W&L won five straight points, with the final two coming off kills from junior outside hitter Anna Lausberg, to win the match. The Blue and White also earned the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament with the victory.
Lausberg led the team with 14 kills. She also added seven digs. Junior outside hitter Kasey Cannon notched 12 kills and 11 digs. Junior setter Alex Kinzer recorded a double-double with 22 assists and 10 digs, while first-year setter Elena West had 11 assists.
First-year defensive specialist Katie Volk registered a team-best 12 digs, and senior defensive specialist Kelly McManus chipped in 11 digs.
Senior middle hitter Aricquel Payne led Lynchburg (19-13) with a match-high 18 kills and 18 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Jennifer Garrett tallied 15 kills and 11 digs, and junior libero Sam Page had a match-high 19 digs.
With their play through all three rounds of the tournament, Cannon, Kinzer, and Lausberg each earned ODAC All-Tournament Team honors.
This is the third time in the history of the program the Generals have won three straight titles. The team claimed three straight from 1997-99 and won eight straight championships from 2001-08.
The Generals lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season to Berry. To find out who and where W&L is playing this year, watch the NCAA selection show on Monday, November 10, at 11:00 am by following this link.
2014 Volleyball All-Tournament Team
Randolph-Macon
College
Courtney Lowers
Virginia Wesleyan
College
Kirstin Sessoms
Lynchburg College
Sam Page
Amanda Perry
Washington and Lee
University
Anna Lausberg
Alex Kinzer
Kasey Cannon
-- This release is courtesy of the Washington and Lee University sports information department. --
-- www.generalssports.com --