For the second year in a row, the Muhlenberg volleyball team advanced to the Championship Bracket of the Greyhound Premiere Invitational by winning its pool. The Mules will play host Moravian and Eastern for the tournament title on Saturday morning.

Last year, Muhlenberg won its bracket with a pair of sweeps. This time, the Mules jumped out to 2-0 leads against both Albright and Rutgers-Newark, only to have their opponents win the next two games. Muhlenberg won the fifth game by a 15-12 score each time.

In the Albright match, the fifth game was tight the whole way. The Mules held a 13-12 lead before scoring the clinching points on two Lion errors. Muhlenberg took an 8-2 lead in Game 5 against Rutgers-Newark and was never headed.

Senior Kate Haggerty paved the way offensively and defensively, tying a career high with 16 kills against Albright and notching a career-best eight blocks in the Rutgers match. Senior Monica Sella added seven blocks as the Scarlet Raiders had trouble hitting anything through the Mule defense, especially in the first two games.

Sophomore Megan Eiser recorded 23 digs and 27 assists in the second match.

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CROSS COUNTRY
The Muhlenberg teams opened their season by both finishing third at the Lehigh Valley Championships. Despite the smaller size of the meet and the rainy conditions, the teams had an exceptional start to the season: Of the 18 athletes that also competed in this meet last year, 14 ran faster than they did in ’05, including four who improved by over 2 minutes.

Senior Tim Seeley (14th), who improved by 1:11, and junior Sara Gearin (18th) led their respective teams.

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Men’s soccer held King’s without a shot, while field hockey had a 20-2 margin in shots.

The men’s soccer team took 10 shots in the first half, but none went in (although one hit the post). The Mules finally broke through early in the second half when sophomore Steve Tenenzapf used his speed to break into the clear on the left flank, then crossed the ball in the box to classmate Brendan Carroll, who buried the shot to the far post for his first career goal.

Muhlenberg’s second goal came after senior Alex Gildner drew a foul just outside the penalty box. Junior Jonathan Kliewer send the ensuing free kick toward the goal, and a Monarch defender, attempting to clear it, headed into the net instead.

The Mules’ scheduled Saturday opponent, Rhode Island College, edged Rutgers-Newark, 2-1, in the first game.

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Junior Jillian Duffy scored once in each half in the field hockey win, both times assisted by classmate Lauren Rutt. The first followed some slick passing on a penalty corner, as Muhlenberg went through several options before Rutt found Duffy for the open shot.

The second-half goal also came off a restart, a long hit from the right side. After a scramble, Rutt took a shot that Duffy tipped in for her eighth career goal.

The victory game Muhlenberg an early 1-0 lead in the 2006-07 Matte Award competition.

Elizabethtown held Misericordia without a shot in winning the first game, 3-0.

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