MATCH LEADERS Kills: Stephanie Kines (17), Katie Laucks (23), Katie Charles (13), Rachel Schatz (10) Digs: Tara McMinn (25) Assists: Carli Dale (51) Kills: Emilie Walk (11), Megan Houck (10) Digs: Nicole Hodgman (23) Assists: Kara Liefer (29)

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Washington (Mo.) University was the defending national champion.

Juniata was the nation's top-ranked team.

Something had to give Saturday evening as the two squared off in the NCAA Division III National Volleyball Championships title game at the Rochester Mayo Civic Center Auditorium.

It did.

Juniata, led by the 17-kill performance from sophomore All-American Stephanie Kines, dethroned the Bears as national champions, capturing the school's first ever NCAA volleyball title with a 3-0 (30-27, 30-27, 30-28) victory.

"In 28 years, I can't tell you how many press conferences I've been to having left the locker room full of tears," said Juniata coach Larry Bock, whose team had lost its other four national championship appearances — including two to Washington U. "This is much better. I'm honored to be involved with the school and the team that has put up with me as a coach."

"We didn't just do this for ourselves, we did it for Larry (Bock) and for every former Juniata volleyball player that has gone through this program," said Kines, one of four Eagles named ot the All-Tournament team. "It's an incredible feeling."

While the score may say otherwise, nothing came easy in the Eagles' 3-0 win. Juniata outlasted WU in the opening game, holding its biggest lead, 20-17, only to have the Bears tie the game four more times, the last at 27-27, before the Eagles scored three straight points — the final on an ace by Katie Laucks.

"We thought it was important to get out to a great start," said Bock, whose team has now won 20 straight, including their last eight by 3-0. "We've been successful in the past when we've done that."

It was more of the same in Game 2, as Juniata never trailed, and held a commanding 29-23 advantage only to have WU make a four-point run to cut the gap to two, 29-27. A service error by WU, however, the game's final point, a 2-0 advantage — and all the momentum.

The Eagles completed the sweep — their second vs. Washington U. this season — by scoring five of the game's final eight points for the 30-28 win.

"That was an incredible match," said Washington U. coach Rich Luenemann, whose team closed out the season with a 32-7 overall record. "The quality of play that we saw tonight was amazing. There was one team that had more points than the other — but there was no loser."

Kines, whose 17 kills were a match-high, led four Juniata players in double figures in kills, with Katie Charles adding 13, Katie Laucks chipping in 12 and Rachael Schatz adding 10. Carli Dale dished out 51 assists and Tara McMinn tallied 25 digs.

In other words, it was a total team effort.

"This was a lot of fun," said Charles. "Everyone on this team played their best volleyball of the season — that was the point."