FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11-13-99

AASU Volleyball Falls To North Florida In PBAC Tournament Final

GREENWOOD, S.C. – No. 24-ranked North Florida defeated Armstrong Atlantic State 15-12, 15-8, 10-15, 15-8, in the finals of the Peach Belt Athletic Conference tournament on Saturday afternoon on the campus of Lander University.

The Pirates ended the season with a school-best 36-5 won-loss record and also tied the NCAA Division II record for the best turnaround in a single season, improving 23.5 games over last season's 8-24 mark. Presbyterian improved 23.5 games in 1987, going 40-5 after a 15-27 campaign.

The PBAC's Freshman of the Year, Lindsay Ehlers, led the Pirates with a match-high 24 kills and hit .302 on the match. Junior Colleen Fitzsimmons recorded 26 digs and freshman Erin Melius notched 47 assists for AASU. North Florida, who will advance to NCAA regional play, was led by Julie Bekker's 23 kills, Traci Till's 38 digs and Alysia Kern's 55 assists.

Melius and Ehlers were named to the PBAC All-Tournament team, joining UNF's Kierstan Jakowicz, Bekker, tournament MVP Kern and USC Spartanburg's Becky Greiling.

Armstrong Atlantic State loses just one senior from this year's squad and will return 11 players next season, including the PBAC's Player of the Year, Kris Bringewatt, and All-Conference players Colleen Fitzsimmons and Micah Roman.

-Pirates-