Blackbirds Dominate Colonials in Pivotal NEC Women's Volleyball Match

The most anticipated match-up of the 2014 Northeast Conference (NEC) women’s volleyball season turned out to be another dominant LIU Brooklyn win as the host Blackbirds (23-6; 14-0 NEC), the conference’s top team, beat second place Robert Morris (14-16; 12-2 NEC) on the final day of regular season play.

Energized by a Senior Day celebration which recognized four graduating players, including Vera Djuric and Annika Foit—two of the greatest players in LIU history—the Blackbirds came out on fire Sunday afternoon at the Steinberg Wellness Center. Quickly pulling ahead in the first set, the home team never let up, sweeping the visiting Colonials 25-11, 25-11, 25-19.

With the win, its 46th consecutive victory in conference regular season play, LIU captured a 4th straight Northeast Conference regular season title and will host the NEC Championship tournament next weekend as the top seed for a fourth consecutive season.

“Like any win, it’s great to have,” said LIU Brooklyn head coach Kyle Robinson. “But we’re really here to win championships. That’s what our goal is and that’s what we’re working at.”

For Dale Starr, Robert Morris head coach, the loss was both a disappointment and a wake-up call for his squad, whose only two conference losses this season were to LIU.

“Give LIU credit, they executed like I hadn’t see them do for a long time. They were on their “A” game and we definitely were not,” said the Starr, now in his fifth year. “We’ve got to go home and regroup and let this sink in.”

Despite the loss Robert Morris captures the 2nd seed in the NEC tournament, and will face 3rd seed St. Francis, PA (12-16; 8-6 NEC) next Saturday in Brooklyn while LIU will face 4th seed Central Connecticut State (11-15; 7-7 NEC).

Since losing the 2011 Northeast Conference Championship to Sacred Heart, the Blackbirds have not lost a conference match, capturing the last two NEC Championships. The Blackbirds have captured nine of the last ten NEC titles and represented the conference in the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament in each of those years.

Sunday was an emotional day for the Blackbirds, as Djuric, Foit, Artisha Jackson and Mia Radisic were all honored in a pre-match ceremony. The four seniors comprise the most successful class in program history, winning 58 of 60 regular season matches.

For Foit, who four years ago came to Brooklyn from a small town in Germany, her LIU experience could not have turned out better.

“We all came in here from Europe and didn’t know what to expect,” said the NEC Player of the Year the past two seasons and an overwhelming favorite to win the award a third straight year. “Coming in and being so successful with Vera [Djuric] as a setter and us hitters—everything worked out so well.”

Foit had high praise for Djuric, the NEC Setter of the year every season she’s been a Blackbird and the likely winner for a fourth straight year.

“If Vera wasn’t there I wouldn’t be so successful,” she said.

One person not sorry to see Djuric and Foit graduate is Robert Morris’ coach.

“Tonight I was thinking to myself: ‘Thank God those two are going to be gone,’” said Starr, whose squad has taken only 8 sets in dropping 9 of 10 matches to LIU the past four years. “A three-time setter of the year and probably a three-time player of the year. You can’t say enough about them.”

Thanks to their performance today Djuric, Foit and the rest of their teammates get another weekend at home as LIU will host the NEC Volleyball Championship November 22 and 23., The Blackbird seniors get an opportunity to pad their awards total by winning a third-straight NEC title and then have a chance to make an impression at the NCAA tournament.

“We never talk about the streak or playing at home,” said Robinson, LIU’s coach. “We want the opportunity to be [playing in] the last match, wherever it is. That’s all we really focus on and care about.”

PHOTO CAPTION: LIU’s Annika Foit with the kill over two Robert Morris defenders
PHOTO CREDIT: Bob Dea