Gabby Anders vs. York (Pa.) 10/11/16
1
York (Pa.) YCP 17-7
3
Winner Elizabethtown ETOWN 6-14
York (Pa.) YCP
17-7
1
Final
3
Elizabethtown ETOWN
6-14
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
York (Pa.) YCP 24 21 25 25 (1)
Elizabethtown ETOWN 26 25 22 27 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Volleyball earns impressive win over York

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. -- Backed by Elle Shatto's 20 kills and Gabby Anders' double-double of 54 assists and 16 digs, Elizabethtown pulled off another big win Tuesday night, downing 17-win York (Pa.) 3-1 (26-24, 25-21, 22-25, 27-25) inside Thompson Gymnasium.

The win gives the Blue Jays (6-14) their first winning streak of the season. More impressively, the victories have come over Lebanon Valley and York teams that were a combined 29-10 on the season before facing Elizabethtown.

Shatto's 20 kills and Anders' 54 assists and 16 digs were all career-highs, but the duo was not alone in the spotlight.

Sarah Schneider had 16 kills and 13 digs for her second consecutive double-double, while Mackenzie Garner matched her sophomore classmate with 16 kills and raised her conference-leading hitting percentage by converting at a .444 (16 kills-4 errors-27 attempts) rate.

Sophomore Anna Simpson recorded nine kills and three aces, and Katie Kennedy stunned the Spartans (17-7) with a career-high six of E-town's 11 service aces.

Youthful they may be, but Elizabethtown is showing major signs of maturity and improvement two-thirds of the way into its season.

It's not just that the Blue Jays have back-to-back victories over strong opponents in their pocket as they head into their most crucial weekend yet, but it's the way they are doing it.

E-town was dominant last Wednesday in its sweep of LVC. They looked the part for good stretches again Tuesday against York. Even when facing adversity, the Jays found a way.

Trailing 12-8 in the first set following a Schneider kill, the guests exploded for eight straight points on the serve of Gabby Emeigh. York would later extend its lead to five, 21-16, but the Jays rallied with a 6-0 run, including back-to-back-to-back aces from Kennedy.

Still, Elizabethtown faced set point when Hannah McMaster's kill put the Spartans up 24-23. Anders set up Schneider for two straight kills and Garner put an exclamation point on the set with her fourth kill of the night for a 26-24 victory.

Shatto, who averaged five kills per set for the evening, was right at that number in the first and second sets. The rookie outside hitter kept the Blue and Gray ahead throughout most of the set and connected for its last two kills, including the set-clincher in a 25-21 decision that put E-town a set from the victory.

York, which has hit the skids a bit of late losing five of its last six, didn't go down easy. Talented freshman Madyson Whitcomb was perfect with six kills on six attempts in the third to help the Spartans play on with a 25-22 win. Whitcomb's 14 kills and six blocks were both team-highs.

Forced to ramp up its game for the fourth, head coach Alex Swan had to like the response from his team. E-town jumped out to a 10-5 lead and was poised for the victory after three kills from Schneider, one from Garner and an ace from Simpson pushed its advantage to 19-13.

The Spartans answered again, using their own 5-0 run to tie the set at 23. The visitors would face match point three times: first at 24-23, then at 25-24 and again at 26-25. They managed to tie the set the first two times, but on third match point, Garner and Schneider threw up a block on Whitcomb to seal it.

York attacked just a bit better than the Jays' Tuesday, hitting .235 (54-22-136) against E-town's .221 (61-29-145). The Spartans came into the match ranked 27th in Division III in total blocks and 40th in blocks per set and held up to their standards with 11 team blocks. Eryn Brady was credited with five to go along with 12 kills and Heather Kline had four.

Anders' 54 assists are tied for the 10th most in a match in team history and she registered the first 50-assist match since Steph High's 55 at Lebanon Valley on Oct. 24, 2015.

Defensive specialist Brooke Ricks and libero Chelsea Gallagher each had seven digs for the Jays, who went just nine deep into their lineup on Tuesday.

Elizabethtown hosts Scranton and Moravian Friday to start Homecoming weekend, needing wins over both to clinch a spot in the Landmark Conference tournament. The Blue Jays play Scranton at 4 p.m., with Scranton facing Moravian at 6 p.m., and the Jays hosting Moravian in the nightcap at 8 p.m.
 
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