San Diego Volleyball : UCSD Sweeps Into the NCAA Division III Final

Janet Hughes had 10 kills and Carol Lipson added nine to lead UC San Diego past Juniata College of Pennsylvania, 15-10, 16-14, 15-1, Friday night in an NCAA Division III semifinal match at Grand Rapids, Mich.

The Tritons (41-6) will play for the national championship at 5:30 today against Calvin College of Michigan. UCSD has reached the Division III championship game five times in the last six years, last winning the title in 1984.

UCSD, ranked No. 2 in the country, got nine service aces from Lori Luhnow and six aces from Monica Bradley. Calvin (37-1) reached today’s final by defeating Wisconsin-LaCrosse, 15-12, 15-7, 11-15, 15-10.

In the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. tournament:

University of the Pacific 3, San Diego State 1--The fifth-ranked Aztecs fell behind early and couldn’t catch up in a semifinal match against the No. 2-ranked Tigers. The Aztecs (36-8) were beaten, 15-12, 15-7, 12-15, 15-12.

“I don’t know why we always get off to slow starts,” Aztec Coach Rudy Suwara said. “It’s hard to come back night after night.”

In its first-round match Thursday, SDSU lost the first two games before rallying to beat UC Santa Barbara. Pacific’s dominant net play prevented the Aztecs from rallying. The Tigers outblocked SDSU, 36-21. Elena Oden had 25 kills and Mary Miller had 16 kills and 15 blocks to lead Pacific.

In West Coast Athletic Conference play:

Loyola Marymount 3, University of San Diego 0--The Toreros lost, 15-4, 15-3, 15-8. Andrea Fort had 34 assists to lead Loyola (22-7). USD fell to 0-11 in conference and 0-20 overall.