Five-set matches played right into the Chaparrals' hands throughout the 2024 season. COD had won all four of its extended matches entering Saturday's NJCAA Division III Championship third-place match against No. 3-seed Century (Minn.) College.
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Safe to say that the fifth five setter was COD's best victory of the year.
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Dominance on the block and well-rounded play on the attack gave No. 11-seed COD a thrilling 3-2 victory over the No. 5-seed and No. 5-ranked Wood Ducks (24-26, 25-22, 30-32, 25-22, 17-15) at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse Arena in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
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COD totaled 28 blocks assists, led by All-Tournament choiceÂ
Josephine Becker's 10. The sophomore finished her career with the Chaps' only solo block for the match, and keyed 12 kills on 40 attacks.
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Freshman
Skylar Huffman had 11 kills while
Christina Savaglio and
Alexandra Hornbogen each had 10.
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On the block, Hornbogen had seven block assists and Savaglio added three.
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Freshman
Megan Daca came off the bench and mightily supported the cause for coach
Tolis Koskinaris' team with eight kills and four block assists.
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Setter
Ava Diaz proved her athleticism with three block assists, in addition to her 44 assists.
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Freshman libero
Francesca Brandonisio, who finished the season as D3's leader in service aces, came through when it mattered with a season-high nine. She led in digs with 23, followed by Huffman (20),
Camila Fundora (18) and Diaz with 16.
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COD ended its season 24-15 and placed among the top five for the third straight year at nationals; winning in 2022 and placing fifth in 2023.
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Match summary
COD took control in the opener going, taking a 6-0 lead. The set featured back-and-forth play with nine ties until Century broke away with the final two points of the set.
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Much like the opener, the second set was evenly played with nine ties, the final at 20-20. A Huffman kill and an attack error from Century gave COD a two-point lead at 22-20. After
Jayde Grant delivered her only ace of the match, the set ended with a kill from Daca and a block assist from her and Savaglio.
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In the third, Century jumped ahead 7-2 and after four ties, COD pushed to a 23-21 lead on a Savaglio kill. After the set was tied at 23 and 24, Century moved ahead to set point at 26-25. COD then fought off five Century set-point attempts until the Wood Ducks scored the final points to win at 32-30.
The fourth featured six ties until Century built four-point leads, its last at 14-10. COD then grabbed momentum by enjoying a 9-2 run built on a Becker kill, a Fundora ace and three attack errors from Century. COD gained side-out, and thanks to two blocks from both Savaglio and Becker, and one from Becker and Diaz. COD pushed its lead to 19-16. At 22-22, kills from Huffman and Becker forced a fifth and final set.
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Both teams battled back and forth in the fifth as each team matched each other with 15 ties. Leading 15-14 after a Century timeout, the set was again tied and what followed next gave the set and the match to the Chaps. A Savaglio kill gave COD side out and a 16-15 lead. Sophomore
Rory Geroux dealt the match's final serve and COD earned the win on a Century attack error.
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