LAKEWOOD, N.J. - The Thomas Jefferson University volleyball team (25-4) erased a 2-0 deficit and fended off four match points in the fifth set to shock the number one overall seed Holy Family, 3-2, in the semifinals of the CACC Tournament at Georgian Court on Saturday.
 
The Rams, the South Division's third seed, advance to the conference final for the first time since 2017. They will take on Bloomfield in the CACC Championship on Sunday, November 21 at 12 p.m.
 
GAMEPLAY
Trailing 12-10, the Tigers used a 9-1 run to take control of the first set on the way to a 25-19 win. In the second, Jefferson held a 16-15 advantage but Holy Family rallied for the next six points to go ahead 21-16. The Tigers went on to win the frame, 25-21.
 
In an 0-2 hole, the Rams were not deterred. Jefferson trailed 18-17 in the third set but went on a 5-0 run to take a 22-18 lead. HFU roared back with five straight for a one-point cushion (23-22). The Rams scored twice then the Tigers tallied two points to make it 25-24. Jefferson posted two more points but Holy Family evened the score at 26. With the score tied at 27, an attack error followed by a kill from Sam Mann got the Rams on the board and forced a fourth set.
 
Jefferson carried the momentum into the fourth, jumping out to a 9-3 lead. The Tigers cut the deficit to three (11-8) but the Rams pulled away with four in a row. Jefferson had a 24-20 advantage before Holy Family threatened with three consecutive points. However, the Rams finished off the stanza with a kill by Mann to send the match to a decisive fifth set.
 
Jefferson looked to run away with the final frame after getting out to a 4-1 advantage. The Tigers stayed in the match, though, and trailed by just two (9-7) in the middle of the set. HFU then surged forward with a 6-0 stretch to take a 13-9 lead. It looked bleak for the Rams with the score 14-10 and facing four match points. In an impressive display, Jefferson responded with a pair of kills and capitalized on two Holy Family errors to even the score at 14. Again, the Tigers got one point away from victory after a Rams' error but Jefferson answered once more, finishing the match with three straight points to seize a euphoric victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Jess Molen: 24 kills, .339 hitting percentage, 12 digs, 4 service aces
- Sam Mann: 14 kills, .321 hitting percentage, 8 blocks, 3 digs
- Morgan Ritchie: 13 kills, 16 digs, 3 blocks
- Kerrigan Candra: 7 kills, 11 digs, 2 blocks, 1 service ace
- Kristine Guenther: 56 assists, 7 digs, 3 service aces, 2 blocks
- Cameron Johnson: 23 digs
 
NOTES
- The Rams will make their seventh overall appearance in the CACC final. They won the conference title in 2016.
- Jefferson is now 3-1 against Holy Family in the CACC Tournament. It was the first time the two teams met in the semifinal round.
- It was the Rams' fourth five-setter this season and they have won all four.