WASHINGTON, DC—The University of Scranton volleyball team locked up the number four seed for the upcoming Landmark Conference tournament by going 1-2  in the league's final weekend of round-robin competition at the DuFour Center on the campus of The Catholic University of America.

Scranton, now 14-11 overall and 3-3 in the Landmark, defeated Goucher College, 3-0, in its first match Saturday afternoon behind a 10-kill, 7-dig effort from junior outside hitter Jenell McFadden (Springfield, Pa./Merion Mercy Academy) and eight kills, four service aces, 14 digs and four total blocks from freshman outside hitter Julia Crilly (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute).

The Royals then had a season-long six-match winning streak come to a close Saturday evening with a hard-fought 3-2 loss to Susquehanna.  The Crusaders fought back from a 2-1 deficit in sets to win set four, 25-18, and set five in overtime, 17-15. 

Crilly led the way with 17 kills and 22 digs, sophomore outside hitter Michaela McCrudden (Fort Washington, Pa./Mt. St. Joseph Academy) had 11 kills and 10 digs, and junior libero Marissa Every (East Norriton, Pa./Mt. St. Joseph Academy) finished with a match and season-high 32 digs.  Junior setters Juli Woods (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven) and Emily Keim (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) combined for 42 of Scranton's 51 assists.

Despite 14 kills and 20 digs from McFadden and nine kills and 12 digs from Crilly, the Royals could not hold off Catholic University this morning, dropping a 3-0 decision.  Every finished with 18 digs to bring her career total to 1459, which is now the fourth most in Scranton history.  Woods had 13 assists to become one of only six players in Scranton history to record at least 1400 assists.  She now has 1409 in her career.

The Royals' 3-3 record in conference play guarantees them a home match in quarterfinals of the Landmark Conference tournament on Wednesday, November 2, at the Long Center.