Volleyball notches 3-0 triumph over Villanova

(boxscore)

10/14/04 -- Senior Ivana Vasiljevic (Brcko, Bosnia & Herzegovina) dished 37 assists and sophomore Dana Demayo (Ra’anana, Israel) totaled 15 kills as Long Island won its fourth straight match, 3-0 (30-26, 30-17, 30-20) over Villanova at Schwartz Center.

The Blackbirds grabbed control in game two by pounding 15 kills, including four from Demayo and three from senior Cristina Pintilie (Cluj Napoca, Romania). Villanova (4-12) was held to nine kills in that game and committed nine errors.

LIU ended the match in game three with 20 kills and only three errors vs. 14 and eight for Villanova. The Blackbirds, winners in 10 of their last 11 matches, notched a 54-36 kills edge with a .280 hitting percentage.

Vasiljevic, the reigning Northeast Conference Player of the Week, added 12 digs to help LIU own a 65-49 advantage and give her 63 career matches with at least a double-double. Demayo contributed 21 digs for her 17th double-double this season and 29th career.

Junior Melanie Fleig (Villingen, Germany) posted 11 kills and eight digs with junior Adela Igniska (Baia Mare, Romania) adding eight and 13 for the Blackbirds (19-5), who move within two victories of tying the school’s single-season mark set in 2002.

Celine Nguyen paced the Wildcats with 11 kills and 13 digs. Jen Lalli closed with 26 assists and Adrian Semrau added 10 kills.

LIU visits Seton Hall on Saturday, beginning at 5:00 pm.