EVANSTON PARK, SOUTH AUSTRALIA - Delaware State University sophomore Jessica Croucher recently helped her Queensland Under 21 team to the President's Cup in the Australia Junior Volleyball Championship after going 7-1 in the double round robin tournament.
Croucher, a native of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia has been a Queensland State representative since 2006 and was a member of the Queensland Senior Women's team from 2008 to 2010 and the Australian Youth and Junior National Team from 2007 to 2008.
Queensland handed Victoria their first loss of the tournament with a 3-2 (24-26, 25-15, 25-19, 15-25, 15-10) victory in the "Grand Final" championship match to win their sixth consecutive President's Cup.
The President's Cup is awarded to the Australian state that wins the most medals in the tournament.
With each victory in the tournament, a team can earn two points. With a loss, the team is awarded one point. Both Queensland and Victoria finished with 15 points and a 7-1 record. Queensland edged Victoria, however, in the sets and points ratio to earn the President's Cup. Queensland finished the tournament with a 0.79 sets ratio (23-6) and 0.542 points ratio (691-583) while Victoria finished with a 0.69 sets ratio (22-10) and 0.537 points ratio (731-630).
"This is such a great experience for Jessica that she'll be able to share with her Hornet teammates," commented DSU volleyball head coach Renee Arnold. "To be selected and compete against the best in your country is an honor that will never be forgotten. Her experience this summer will significantly benefit our team this upcoming season."
Prior to the Grand Final gold medal match, Queensland lost their first match of the round robin, 2-3 (25-23, 25-20, 23-25, 21-25, 12-15), to Victoria.
Queensland didn't lose a single set to begin the tournament, going 3-0 against Western Australia, New South Wales and South Australia in the first two days.
On day three, Victoria proved to be a difficult foe as Queensland dropped their first set of the tournament, 16-25. They rallied, however, and went on to win the match, 3-1 (16-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-16).
Queensland finished day three with a 3-1 (19-25, 27-25, 25-21, 25-15) victory over Western Australia.
In their single match on day four, Queensland once again dropped their first set but went on to win, 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-17) over New South Wales.
Queensland split day five with a 1-1 record, defeating South Australia, 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-17), and falling to Victoria, 2-3.
Croucher and her DSU teammates begin 2011-2012 competition on Aug. 26 with a 4:30 p.m. match against Stetson in the William and Mary Tribe Invitational in Williamsburg, Va. On Aug. 17, they will take on Bucknell and William and Mary. The Hornets do not play a home game until Sept. 30 when they host Howard in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference match-up at Memorial Hall.
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