GETTYSBURG, Pa. – The Elizabethtown College women's volleyball team opened the 2021 season with a split, falling to Dickinson and topping Rowan, at the Battlefield Classic hosted by Gettysburg College Friday evening.
Sophomore Georgianna Kahley finished the afternoon with 15 kills and 23 digs, including her first career double-double in match one. Sophomore Kambrie Hepler tallied 29 digs and junior Sarah Hanks (28) and senior Rileigh Hudock (19) combined for 47 assists. Sophomore Katie Scaggs registered 11 total blocks.
The Blue Jays opened the afternoon against the Red Devils. After Dickinson took the opening set 25-15, Etown came out charging in the second set. Tied at three, the Blue Jays rattled off six straight points for the 9-3 advantage. Senior Shelly Yohe and Scaggs each had a block and a kill over the stretch and Kahley had another.
Dickinson climbed back into the match with a run of their own, scoring five straight points to close within one (11-10).
Freshman Karlee Ray pushed the lead back to two with a kill, but the Red Devils went on a 11-3 run to take control of the second as they moved ahead 2-0 with the 25-22 win.
The final set was tight from the start with the score being tied at three, four, seven, eight and 10.
After Dickinson stretched its lead to three (15-12) the Blue Jays score five of the next points to move ahead 17-16. Kahley recorded two kills over this stretch and Scaggs had a kill and a block.
Tied at 21, the Red Devils closed out straight set win, scoring the final five points for the 25-21 win.
In the second match, Rowan came out strong, running out to a 8-2 lead in the opening set. The Blue Jays, however, responded with a 10-4 run capped off by a kill from Gianna Krinock.
Etown continued to charge in the first stanza, pushing its lead to 21-15 after Hanks found Yohe for the kill. The Blue Jays road this momentum to a 25-17 win and a 1-0 advantage in match two.
Down one (7-6) early in the second, Etown once again used another scoring burst to take control of the set. The Blue Jays scored nine of the next 10 points and moved in front 15-8 after an ace from Hanks.
Etown pushed it lead all the way to 10 (24-14) and held of a final run from the Profs for the 25-20 win in set two.
Similar to the first two sets, the Blue Jays found themselves in an early hole, down 10-8. Ray then sparked a rally for Etown, smashing home a Hudock set to kickoff off a 5-0 run and move the Blue Jays in front 13-8.
Etown would never look back from here as they took home their first win of the season in straight sets, topping Rowan 25-19 in the final set.
The Blue Jays returns to Thompson for their home opener on Wednesday, September 8 against St. Mary's. Opening served is set for 7 p.m.
