ROCHESTER, MN - Once a team loses at the national tournament, many people expect a major let-down or drop in intensity during their next match ... Somebody forgot to tell the Northampton and Jefferson (NY) volleyball teams.

Coming off loses in their opening matches of the NJCAA national tourament, the 6th seeded Spartans and 7th seeded Cannoneers faced off in a consolation semi-final that proved to be worthy of an ESPN "Instant Classic."  The two teams battled though five unbelievably close sets, with the Spartans pulling out the 3-2 (25-23, 29-31, 26-28, 27-25, 16-14) victory to advance to the 5th place game on Saturday at 11:00am.  Northampton fought off five match points in the 5th set to earn the victory, "I can't say enought about these young ladies," remarked Head Coach Adrian Yaguez, "Eastfield took it it to us in the opening match and then we find out that our setter (Alysce Molchan (Nazareth, PA/Notre Dame - Green Pond )) was not going to be able to play vs. Jefferson, so understandably we were down ... but to their credit they never quit and came back for a remarkable win that they will never forget."

Katrina Shelly (Mountville, PA /Hempfield ), the Region XIX MVP, had 23 kills and 32 digs, Rachael Caywood (Bath, PA/Nazareth ) had 16 kills, Bridget Lozier (Saylorsburg, PA/Pleasant Valley) added 9 kills and 5 blocks and Emily Petrat (Bethlehem, PA /Freedom ) stepped in at the setter position and recorded 50 assists and 14 digs.  Defensively, Kalli Walling (Saylorsburg, PA /Pleasant Valley) recorded 36 digs and Megan Crimi (Nazareth, PA /Notre Dame - Green Pond ) added 29. 

Northampton improves to 31-2 overall and will play at 11am Saturday in the 5th/6th place match vs. 5th seeded Columbus State Community College (OH).

Jefferson Community College falls to 30-12.