College roundup: Knoch grad Christy, Juniata volleyball can 3-peat as national champs
Kennedy Christy and Juniata College women’s volleyball will play for history in the NCAA Division III National Championship game Saturday.
The Eagles, the two-time defending champions, will play Wisconsin-Whitewater at 4 p.m.
Juniata has won 96 straight matches, second most ever in the nation.
Christy, a Knoch graduate in her grad year, had 15 kills, including the match winner, in Thursday’s 3-2 semifinal win over Hope College. She has 253 kills, 40 aces, 234 digs and 26 blocks this season.
Slippery Rock football’s Todd Hill and Brayden Long were named finalists for postseason awards this week.
Hill, a senior defensive end, was named one of eight finalists for the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award. The PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year has 69 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hurries and a safety.
Long was named a Harlon Hill Trophy finalist for the second year in a row. He has thrown for 2,918 yards, 22 touchdowns and just four interceptions; he also has a team high six rushing touchdowns.
Butler grad David Bocci set a Clarion men’s swimming record in the 200-yard freestyle, with a 1:38.62 that made the NCAA “B” cut by more than a second earlier this week.
Then Friday at Akron’s Zippy Invite, he broke his on 500 free record with a 4:25.96, more than four seconds faster than the record he set during the 2021-22 season.
Alyssa Gillin and Kayley Joseph-Bernard’s double-doubles powered Slippery Rock women’s basketball to a 64-57 road win Friday.
The Rock (4-4, 2-1 PSAC) got 15 points and 10 rebounds from Gillin, and 14 and 13 (with five assists) from Joseph-bernard. They are the first SRU duo to record double-doubles in the same game since 2022.
The Rock built a big first-half lead and held on to win 86-72 Friday over Kutztown, picking up their first PSAC win of the season.
Ike Herster was 5 of 6 from 3-point territory to lead Slippery Rock (4-6, 1-2) with 21 points. Jomo Goings and Maceo Austin had 18 points, with Goings grabbing eight rebounds.
No. 2 Pitt hosts Vermont at 3 p.m. Saturday in the NCAA quarterfinals, with the winner advancing to the NCAA Men’s College Cup.
It would be the third such appearance for the Panthers if they make it.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
