2003 CUNYAC Community College Women's Volleyball

Fashion Wins In Style. Repeats As CUNY Champions

NEW YORK, NY - Fashion Institute of Technology won the 2003 CUNY Athletic Conference Community College Women's Volleyball Tournament, stomping their hosts Borough of Manhattan Community College 30-20, 30-17, 30-17 in the final match to win the school's second straight title in straight sets. The day-long event was played at BMCC in lower Manhattan.

Last year's Tournament Most Valuable Player, Elizabeth Otero, a native of Puerto Rico, was outstanding once again with 12 kills, seven aces and seven digs in the finale, netting her back-to-back trophies. The 5'10" sophomore played a crucial role when she was not dominating at the net as well. I the second game, with F.I.T. holding a 21-17 lead, Otero served out the game, crushing BMCC's hopes for a comeback.

"Elizabeth has raised the level of her entire game since last year," said F.I.T. head coach Alecia Jiminez. "She's an all-around team player. I'm very proud to be able to coach her."

Setter Elizabeth Tully (Malverne, NY) who had 15 assists, 12 digs and six kills also paced the Tigers (3-0). Classmate Ariana Tauro (Leonia, NJ) led the Tigers with 14 digs. BMCC (2-1) was led by freshman Iva Skoch (New York, NY) with six kills and 13 digs, while sophomore setter Danisha Torres (Bronx, NY) added nine assists and nine digs. The silver lining for the Panthers in the loss is that since Fashion is a guest at the CUNY event, BMCC will earn 1st place in the CUNY Commissioner's Cup standings for volleyball, while Queensborough Community College will get second. Every point helps, as evidenced by last year's Cup tie between Bronx and Manhattan Community Colleges.

"Last year we went five sets to win the tournament," said Otero, who became only the third, and the Tigers' first repeat MVP winner. "Today, for whatever reason, we were able to dominate our opponents and put ourselves in aggressive situations. It was a great day."

In the semifinals before the championship match, F.I.T. made quick work of Bronx, winning 30-17, 30-15, 30-10 while BMCC barely slipped by QCC in the other semifinal 21-30, 30-28, 25-30, 30-19, 15-13 in the only five-game match of the day to advance. That match definitely took its toll on the Panthers, who ran out of steam towards the end of the final.

It was the seventh title for the Tigers, an invited guest into the event every season, in the 17-year history of the CUNY Tournament. The seven wins are second to the host school, BMCC, who has won nine CUNY Championships.

Tournament Played At Borough Of Manhattan Community College

TOURNAMENT RECAP