PROVIDENCE -- La Salle's rooting section -- cheering and waving ``We're No. 1'' signs -- was on the verge of a victory celebration yesterday during the third game of the Maroon's Division II quarterfinal match against West Warwick.

La Salle led, 14-3, and was looking to put the game away. Top-seeded
La Salle eventually did win, 15-4, but needed six sideouts before middle
hitter John Bevilacqua slammed a kill for match point.

The 3-0 victory moved La Salle into Friday night's semifinals at CCRI's
Knight Campus field house. The Maroon will meet Mount Pleasant at 8
p.m.

Though the scores in the La Salle gym were 15-6, 15-6 and 15-4,
yesterday's match was a classic example of the final score not reflecting
the level of play. West Warwick, which does not have a senior on the
team, made La Salle scrap for just about every point. La Salle's longest
run was four points.

``Records don't really matter once you get to the playoffs,'' said Kristin
Ward, the Maroon head coach, whose team finished with a 16-3
Division II mark.

``We don't underestimate anyone. We played our kind of game. My two
power hitters (senior Nick DiMeo and junior Mike Burns) did a fantastic
job.''

``We knew they'd be coming in pretty strong,'' said Bevilacqua, the
Maroon's 6-foot middle hitter who had five blocks yesterday. ``Our
passing went pretty well, and our communication was great. We've been
working on that.''

Sophomore Matt Lynch had 13 blocks and nine points from the service
line for La Salle. Dave Graziano finished with 11 points and DiMeo 10.

``We're inexperienced,'' said Wizards' coach Terry Prohaska. ``We
don't know how to keep up the intensity, or how to call the ball. We've
got all new players, so I'm pretty pleased to have made it to the
playoffs.''

West Warwick never folded. In the third game, the Maroon led, 12-0.
But the Wizards played every ball as if the margin was one point. With
La Salle on the cusp of victory, West Warwick junior Dan Joubert
slipped the ball over the net for a sideout. The Wizards managed another
point, and forced five other turnovers before Bevilacqua's slam put the
game on ice.

``(West Warwick) picked everything up, no matter what,'' said Lynch,
La Salle's 6-3 junior hitter. ``It wasn't one of my best games, but we
won, and that's what counts.''

``I was impressed,'' the Wizards' Prohaska said. ``We didn't play that
badly. Overall, it was a good season. To take this team to the playoffs
was a main goal for us.''

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