Golden Eagles Earn 2nd Straight
NCAA Tournament Berth
SJC Volleyball to Play Nazareth in First Round

Patchogue, NY –This time they will get to play a little closer to home. Following last year's 3,000-mile cross-country trek to Spokane, Washington, the Golden Eagles were ready for another excursion to the west coast, yet they won't even board a plane to get to their next destination - New York City.

The St. Joseph's College Golden Eagle Women's Volleyball team is headed to their second straight NCAA Division III Volleyball Tournament after capturing the Skyline Volleyball Championship on Saturday, November 10 in Kings Point. The Golden Eagles (21-9) will play Nazareth College (28-9) from Rochester, N.Y. on Thursday evening in a first round match at New York University in Manhattan.

Coach Sean Holden's squad, which went into the Skyline Tournament as the #3 seed, upset #2 seed Mt. St. Mary in the semifinal (30-17, 30-23, 30-25). That victory advanced them to the Skyline Championship versus the top-seeded Mariners of the United States Merchant Marine Academy. In that match the Golden Eagles prevailed 3-1 (30-28, 29-31, 30-23, 30-28) and earned back-to-back Skyline titles for the first time in school history and the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament.

SJC senior outside hitter Marissa Wein (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford H.S.) had a match-high 26 kills and added 18 digs against USMMA, totaling 38 kills and 29 digs on the day. Outside hitter Nichole Hassett (West Sayville, N.Y./Connetquot H.S.) had 12 kills in each match and raked in 16 digs in the championship. Freshman setter and two-time Skyline Rookie of the Week Christina Auth (East Patchogue, N.Y./Bellport H.S.) had 25 of her 42 assists against USMMA, and also had a team-high 24 digs in the final contest.

Seniors Wein (2nd Team Skyline, 1st Team WIAC), Maureen Burns (2nd Team Skyline, 1st Team WIAC) and Hassett (1st Team Skyline, 2nd Team WIAC) were all honored last week with Skyline and WIAC All-Conference honors. Coach Sean Holden was honored as the 2003 WIAC Coach of the Year.

Despite an injury-plagued season where the starters only played together for a handful of games, St. Joseph's is now at full strength for their toughest test. The team won the 2003 WIAC Championship by remaining undefeated in conference play (6-0) and finished the Skyline schedule with a 6-2 record.

The Golden Eagles traveled to Spokane, WA in 2002 for their first round NCAA match with La Verne College and lost in three games. That trip marked SJC's first-ever appearance in the tournament. Golden Eagle Volleyball remains only the second team from St. Joseph's to ever participate in NCAA Tournament play.

NCAA Tournament Bracket
NCAA Women's Volleyball Home Page

For more information on the St. Joseph's College Athletic Program, contact Frank Flandina, Sports Information Director, at (631) 447–3352 or