Volleyball Caps Regular Season With 12 Game Win Streak

The Lady Bears Volleyball team finished their 2008 season with another straight set victory over the Old Westbury Panthers on Wednesday night in front of a large crowd as the student body celebrated Spirit Day. Also in attendance were members of the NCAA Membership Committee conducting a campus visit as part of the NCAA provisional membership process. The victory increases the Lady Bears' winning streak to 12 and they haven't dropped a set in the last 8 matches. After starting the season at 4-4, adjusting to the new coaching staff, the Lady Bears now sit at 16-4 going into the Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference Tournament this weekend.

St. Joseph's got off to a slow start, committing 4 errors including 2 huge blocks from the Panther middle defense that gave Old Westbury an early 0-5 lead, prompting coach Kathleen O'Neill to call a timeout. The timeout seemed to settle the Lady Bears down as they equalized the set at 11-11 didn't trail for the remainder. Behind the strong serve of Bala Huseinovic(Brooklyn, NY / New Utrecht) St. Joe's extended the lead to 21-11, which Huseinovic accounted for 4 points on service aces. The Lady Bears went on to take the opening set 25-15.

The Lady Bears trailed again early in the second set, but after drawing even at 7-7 didn't look back and took the set at 25-12. St. Joseph's outhit Old Westbury 13 kills to 5 and committing only 3 errors.

In the final set, St. Joseph's took control from the outset behind the dominant attack of senior middle hitter Tamara Bulatovic (Queens, NY / Grover Cleveland). Bulatovic had 7 kills and 2 aces during the set, with the majority of the attacks remaining untouched by the Panther defense. The Lady Bears closed out the match 25-14.

Bulatovic led all attackers with 13 kills and setter Jaime Mascetti (Queens, NY / St. John's Prep) had 7 kills, 24 assists and 6 digs. Sophomore Yliane Ulloa(Queens, NY / Midwood) chipped in 6 kills and 9 digs. Old Westbury was led by L'oreal Ellington (5 kills, 5 digs) and Debra DePalma (12 assists, 1 kill).

St. Joseph's closes out the 2008 season on Sunday at the Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference Tournament where they hold the #1 seed as a result of their 6-0 record in confernce play. They look to capture their sixth straight HVWAC Conference Championship. The tournament will be held at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY.