BLOOMFIELD COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL TEAM ADVANCES TO NAIA
NATIONAL TOURNAMENT IN FLORIDA
November 20, 2000 - It’s been quite a run for the Bloomfield College women’s volleyball team - and it’s not over yet.
On Saturday, November 18 the Lady Deacons (24-4) captured the NAIA Region X Tournament for the first time in the school’s history. Bloomfield College will now compete in the NAIA Volleyball National Championship hosted by Palm Beach Atlantic College in West Palm Beach, Florida from November 29 through December 2.
Bloomfield advanced to the Nationals in convincing fashion, defeating Wilmington College in the semifinals, 15-3, 15-8, 15-8, before trouncing Goldey Beacom College in the finals, 15-11, 15-1, 15-9.
“When it was all over, the players started chanting ‘Florida!’ They are really excited to be a part of Bloomfield’s first team to go to the Nationals,” said first-year head coach Tony Fontanelle. “I’m really happy that we got the job done in my first year as head coach. We have a group of talented players who worked together to accomplish our first goal.”
Bloomfield was led by All-Conference players Monica Fernandez, Eduarda Modaneze, and Cintia Spaniol in the Regionals. Modaneze, a 6’3” sophomore from Brazil, led the Lady Deacons with 20 kills in the semifinals while Spaniol, a 6’4” freshman who is also from Brazil, paced Bloomfield with 16 kills in the finals. Fernandez (5’9” - Colombia), the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference’s Most Valuable Player, tallied 15 kills in both matches.
Senior Ginna Vargas (5’5” - Ozone Park, NY) was Bloomfield’s defensive stand-out, notching 17 digs in the finals. Middle hitter Pinda Diakho (6’0” - France) and setter Francia Franco (5’8” - Colombia) also played well for the Lady Deacons.
“Pinda came back from an injury to dominate the net, and Francia Franco did an amazing job, especially considering she’s been a setter for just three months.”
Bloomfield finished the regular season with a 20-4 record and a perfect 14-0 record in the Central Atlantic Collegeiate Conference. The Lady Deacons captured their conference championship on November 4 with a 15-4, 15-9, 15-11 victory over last year’s champions, Wilmington College.
The NAIA Volleyball National Championship begins on November 29 with 20 teams placed into four pools for round robin play. While Bloomfield is clearly excited to be in the tournament, the team isn’t content to rest on its laurels.
“It’s a great beginning,” said Fontanelle. “I’d like to represent the Region well, and we’re hoping to win a few matches.”
