Box Score

BOSTON—The Northeastern women's volleyball team will advance to the 2013 Colonial Athletic Association Volleyball Finals after sweeping UNC Wilmington, 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 27-25), in the semifinals on Saturday afternoon at North Charleston Convention Center.

With the win, NU holds a perfect 16-0 all-time record against the Seahawks.

Kelly Bacon led the Huskies after recording her 20th double-double of the season with 12 on 29 swings (.345) and 12 digs. Rookie of the Year Jamie Bredahl notched her seventh season triple-double with 10 attacks (.364), 11 digs and 14 assists. Junior Ava Cramp and senior Janelle Tucker tallied seven kills each while middle blocker Nichole Kurz and counterpart Caterina Rosander added 11 swings, collectively.

Defensive Player of the Year Natalia Skiba anchored NU's backcourt with 16 digs, while fourth-year setter Ina Kamenova threw up a match-best 21 assists and contributed five digs.

Nicole Lott was the only Seahawk to hit in double digits, recording 11 kills as the Huskies held UNCW to a .167 attack percentage. 

Northeastern jumped on the board first, snagging a quick 4-0 lead capped with Bacon kill. The Seahawks landed a couple of kills of their own, but the Huskies used another 4-point surge to extend their lead, 8-3. UNCW registered four swings and forced an NU error to come within one, 11-10, but Northeastern maintained control, utilizing the offensive strength of Kurz, Bredahl and Bacon.

Kurz and Cramp teamed up for couple of double blocks to force UNCW to call for the first timeout of the match, trailing 20-13. The Seahawks responded by immediately adding a kill after the huddle, but it was not enough to stop the Huskies from taking the first set, 25-17.

Neither team budged in the early goings of the second frame as the teams reached an early 4-4 tie. UNC Wilmington broke ahead after a kill and an ace to post a 6-4 advantage. UNCW maintained a small lead until the Huskies evened the score at the 10 mark before errors plagued both sides of the net.

Even 12-12, Northeastern used a 7-1 run to push past the Seahawks for its final lead of the set, 19-13. UNCW would not back down as it came within three points on three occasions down the stretch, but a Bacon kill gave the Huskies a 25-21 third-set victory.

Looking to avoid the sweep, UNC Wilmington landed the first point of the set after an NU error, but Northeastern was quick to respond with Bacon's 10th kill of the night. The score was tied 15 times throughout the third set, as neither team would back down.

Tied 20-20, UNCW regrouped with a timeout before regaining the lead, 22-21. NU attempted to do the same as Ken Nichols hailed for a breather, trailing 24-23. The teams exchanged the lead five times in the last 11 rallies, but Northeastern came out on top, 27-25, and guaranteed itself a spot in the CAA Finals.

The Huskies return to action tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 24, when they face top-seeded College of Charleston in the hunt for their first CAA Championship title.

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