IMMACULATA, Pa. - The Immaculata University women's volleyball clinched a berth into the inaugural Atlantic East Conference Women's Volleyball Tournament Wednesday night, defeating Gwynedd Mercy 3-1. Madi Curley, Olivia Zdradzinski and Shelby Belk all turned in solid performances on the trio's senior night, as Curley had a game-high 11 kills and Zdradzinski produced a team-leading 37 assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Macs opened the first set of the night with an 8-1 run before later stretching the lead out to 13-4 on a pair of Curley kills. Gwynedd would mount a rally to get within one, but the Macs responded with earning nine of the next 12 points out of a timeout to take the first set, 25-18.
-The two sides were within a point of each other for a majority of the second set, but a late 6-2 run propelled the Griffins to the set victory, 25-19, to even the match.
-IU fell behind early on in the third set, but came roaring back with six-straight points to take a 12-8 lead thanks to kills from Jade Rindock and Natalie Dependahl. Gwynedd kept pace to hold the deficit at two, but the Macs refused to relinquish the lead, holding on for a 25-19 set win to take the advantage in the match. Gerri Passalacqua came through with two kills on the final three points to lead the Macs.
-The fourth set had a back-and-forth feel to it in the early going, but IU took total control with a 7-0 run to take a commanding 16-8 lead. The Griffins were unable to string together a run to make a comeback in the deciding set, as a service error led to a 25-14 set and match win for the Mighty Macs, their first Atlantic East win in program history.


TEAM COMPARISON
-Immaculata held the edge in kills, 48-29.
-IU also produced more service aces at an 11-5 clip.
-The Macs registered 13 blocks on the night opposite Gwynedd's nine. Rindock had nine total blocks of her own.
-IU also held the edge in digs, 108-100.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
-Kills: Curley/Belk 11, Dependahl 9
-Digs: Desmond 26, Dependahl 23, Curley 21
-Assists: Zdradzinski 37, Curley/Desmond 3
-Aces: Hawbaker 4, Dependahl 3
-Blocks: Rindock 9, Zdradzinski 3

UP NEXT
Immaculata (5-15, 1-4 Atlantic East) rounds out regular season play at Marymount Sunday ahead of the start of the Atlantic East Conference Tournament.