Losses Help UCSD Rebound for Big Win : Women Come Back From Two Down to Reach Volleyball Title Match

LA JOLLA —  With his team trailing, 2-0, in the semifinals of the NCAA Division III women’s volleyball national championships, UC San Diego Coach Doug Dannevik looked for his team’s eight losses instead of its 30 victories during the regular season to keep the top-ranked Tritons from an embarrassing defeat to unranked Juniata.

“We had the chance to play this type of match all the time,” Dannevik said. “Because of our tough schedule. (Juniata) played great for one hour. They were on fire.”

But UCSD was able to put the fire out and rally for a 12-15, 13-15, 15-7, 15-7, 15-5 victory over Juniata and advance to the final for the third consecutive year. The Tritons will meet Illinois-Benedictine, a 17-15, 4-15, 15-8, 15-10 winner over second-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater, at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Triton Pavilion.

Dannevik was convinced that the Tritons eight losses, four against Division II teams ranked in the top 12 and four to Division I teams, saved his Tritons.

“In the first two games our youth showed up a little bit,” Dannevik said. “Juniata played better during that stretch. I saw the look on our faces. We were looking for a hero and nobody was a hero yet.”

The Tritons had leads of 10-6 in Game 1 and 13-7 in Game 2 before Juniata rallied to win. UCSD again built a 13-7 lead in Game 3 but this time did not cave in.

“After we realized we had only one shot at this title, we got angry as opposed to anxious,” said setter Laurie Bertanyi. “We were looking a little bit too far in the future. I expected them to break down a little but they didn’t.”

Diana Klintworth, who was quiet the first part of the match, had 21 kills and Rachel Vetter added 15 to lead UCSD, which has won two consecutive national title and four since 1981. Melinda Selby had 23 kills to lead Juniata.

Leading, 12-7, in Game 3 the Tritons did not let Juniata (42-7) back in the match.

UCSD trailed 7-6 in Game 4 before scoring the next 9 points to tie the match at 2-2.

The Tritons then picked the best spot of the match to finally get its offense in gear. As Juniata tired, the Tritons got stronger in the final game. After Juniata took a quick 2-1 lead, UCSD scored 11 consecutive points, including 8 on the serve of Dana Simone for a 12-2 lead.

“All I could tell them was to keep fighting,” Dannevik said. “I told them that (Juniata ) will make mistakes and to keep the pressure on. They had a difficult time playing at that level for the entire match.”