Sept. 8, 2007
BEVERLY, MA - New Jersey City University's Lizzelle Cintron (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) was named the Endicott Invitational MVP as the senior middle blocker hammered home 23 kills in the Gothic Knights three-game sweep of Endicott College in Beverly, MA.
The Gothic Knights got right to work in game one of the Finals as NJCU defeated the home-standing Gulls, 30-19, in the opening frame. Game two was perhaps the most exciting of the two-day event as each side traded points throughout. The Gothic Knights would prevail in the second contest, as they took a hard-fought, 36-34, decision and a 2-0 lead into game three. It was all New Jersey City in the third and final game as the visitors captured the Endicott Invitational Championship trophy with a decisive, 30-19, game three victory.
The Gothic Knights were led by Tournament MVP Lizzelle Cintron's 23 kills and five blocks. Alex Johanesen (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) dished-out 23 assists while senior libero Glorinell Perez (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) had 18 digs in the winning effort. NJCU placed two players, Cintron and Jacqueline LeBlanc (Westfield, NJ/Westfield), on the All-Tournament Team.
Endicott was led by All-Tournament Team selections Meghan Hall (Santa Cruz, CA/Aptos) and Hayley Janelle (Madbury, NH/Oyster River). Hall compiled 30 assists while Janelle notched 10 kills in the losing effort.
Endicott earned a trip to the finals by downing the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors, 3-0, in the noontime match-up. The Gulls Meghan Hall handed out 40 assists in the three game contest. Brittany Phillips (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln Sudbury), Hayley Janelle and Steph Wiese (Higganum, CT/Haddam-Killingworth) combined for 31 kills in the victory.
The Warriors were paced by Sandra Jaques' (Milford, CT/Jonathan Law) 10 kills and 14 assists. Eastern Connecticut also got a strong outing from Priscilla Dougherty (Island Park, NY/West Hempstead), as the senior setter compiled 20 assists in the loss.