Blackbirds Win Second Straight NEC Title; Advance to NCAA Tournament

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11/20/05 -- Long Island University captured its second straight Northeast Conference Volleyball Championship with a 3-0 (30-24, 30-19, 30-24) victory over Robert Morris on Sunday afternoon at the Schwartz Center.

With the triumph, the Blackbirds (24-12) earn the league’s automatic bid to the 25th Annual NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship. NCAA first round action begins the first weekend in December.

Senior Lizelle Jackson (Palmdale, CA) was selected the championship’s Most Valuable Player after tallying 12 kills and 17 digs. Jackson was awarded the league’s Player of the Year award on Friday, becoming only the second player in league history to earn both accolades in the same season. Amy Ford of Rider accomplished the same feat in 1995.

Long Island took an early lead in game one, 10-7. Two consecutive points by the Colonials shrunk the lead to one (10-9), but the Blackbirds won six of the next seven points to take a commanding 16-10 lead following a block by senior Jade Gold (Jupiter, FL). Both teams struggled offensively, hitting below .200. Gold and Jackson had three kills apiece as LIU took the game, 30-24.

Tied at 6-6 in game two, LIU got going offensively thanks to six kills and .500 hitting from Gold. A kill by the NEC first team selection gave the Blackbirds a three-point advantage (10-7). After extending its lead to six at 20-14, Gold notched LIU’s next three kills as the Blackbirds went on to win the second game, 30-19.

A kill by outside hitter Cyndi Dunslow (Brampton, Ontario) pulled the Colonials to within one, 13-12, in the third and deciding stanza. The game would remain close until a kill by Jackson closed a Blackbirds’ 4-1 run and pushed the home team to a 25-20 lead. Consecutive kills by Jackson and Gold and a block from Gold sealed LIU’s second consecutive NEC championship, 30-24.

Gold finished the afternoon with a match-high 15 kills on .483 hitting. Jackson’s double-double was her 21st of the year. Senior Megan Bell, Dunslow and Cassie Lee each had seven kills apiece for the Colonials.

Robert Morris (16-13) won five straight championships from 1999-2003 until being upset last season by Long Island.

All-Tournament Team
MVP - Lizelle Jackson, Long Island
Ivana Vasiljevic, Long Island
Adela Igniska, Long Island
Megan Bell, Robert Morris
Cassie Lee, Robert Morris
Jacqui Jackson, Central Connecticut State
Ann Roosevelt, St. Francis (PA)