ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Dominican University women’s volleyball team finished its 2011 Northern Athletics Conference regular season schedule tonight with a 3-0 win at Rockford College, which also completes their perfect 12-0 record in NAC play this season.  It marks the first time in school history that the program has gone undefeated in NAC play, and with the win, the Stars improve to 26-5 on the season overall.

The Stars were rolling from the start, as they dominated the first set for a final score of 25-6.  In the second, things got a little closer, but the Stars came away with 14 kills in the set for a .542 clip and final score of 25-15. The third and final set then ended 25-13 in favor of the Stars after they knocked down 12 more kills in the set.

Everyone on the roster would make their way into the game, and Jess Guerrieri (Plainfield, Ill./North) would distribute a match-high 24 assists in a balanced Stars’ attack that led to 38 kills and a .382 team hitting percentage. 

Three Stars went off for especially impressive nights, as Evelyn Gamboa (Chicago, Ill./Queen of Peace) led the way with eight kills and a .583 attack percentage, while Kellie Van Voorhis (Union Mills, Ind./LaPorte) and Becca Fritz (Mount Carroll, Ill./West Carroll) also knocked down seven kills apiece, with attack percentages of .545 and .636, respectively.

Defensively, nearly every player would contribute to the digs column, but it was defensive specialists Liz Yakey (Sun Prairie, Wis.) and Cheyanne Kelly (Kalamazoo, Mich./Central) to lead the way with seven digs apiece.

Claire Dezelski (Northville, Mich./Ladywood) also chipped in with a solid night for the Stars, as she recorded four of the team’s eight service aces on the night, knocked down six kills, and picked up six digs.

The Stars now turn to postseason play, where they have earned the number one seed in the NAC Tournament and will face the eight-seeded Regents of Rockford (8-12, 5-7 NAC) once again in a quarterfinal match that is set for Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. The Stars are also in the driver’s seat to host each of the next two rounds of the tournament that will take place on Thursday, Nov. 3, and Saturday, Nov. 5.