GETTYSBURG, Pa. - The Haverford College volleyball team (17-6, 3-2 CC) used a historic blocking performance against host Gettysburg to secure a conference victory in a tri-match split Saturday afternoon. Haverford prevailed over Gettysburg (12-8, 3-2 CC) by set scores of 22-25, 25-11, 25-20, and 25-21 at Bream Gym. In the second match of the day, the Fords were defeated by Stevenson (21-0), a team receiving votes in the latest AVCA poll, by set scores of 25-18, 25-12, 25-14 in a neutral-site contest.
Haverford 3, Gettysburg 1
The Fords posted 18 total team blocks in the four-set victory over the Bullets, matching the highest total output against a conference opponent in program history. Julia Gallagher-Teske had 10 total blocks in the match, the second-best individual match mark in program history. Kendall Otridge (eight total blocks) and setter Sydney Miller (seven) also were heavy contributors to the defensive effort up front in the Centennial showdown.
Coming out firing out on the road, the Fords also had great hitting afternoons from Madison Adore and Dina Kosyagin. Adore was a standout performer, with 14 kills against just one error (.419 hitting percentage). Kosyagin also added 14 kills, committing just five errors. Sydney Miller added 38 assists, while Sara Matsumura had 16 digs to lead four Fords in double figures in the category.
After dropping the first set, the Fords stormed back with a 25-11 second-set victory after starting the match by establishing a massive 20-5 lead. Two consecutive blocks helped the Fords pull away down the stretch, as Gallagher-Teske and Miller gave Haverford a 22-9 lead before Kosyagin put the set away in earnest with a kill.
In the third, the two sides battled for separation with the Fords turning a 15-14 deficit into an 18-15 lead, prompting a Gettysburg timeout. Eventually, Haverford was too strong down the stretch as the defense limited the Bullets to a negative hitting percentage in the set.
The fourth saw both sides locked in as the match reached its apex. Gettysburg appeared to be in a strong position to force a decisive fifth set as it led 17-12, but the Fords rallied with Miller and Otridge teaming up for consecutive blocks to cut that lead to 18-14, before Lindsey Keener and Otridge each punched down kills to tie the score at 20-20. Gettysburg called timeout to set the stage for the race to five points, but it was Kosyagin who was the key cog down the stretch, setting the tone with three consecutive kills to put Haverford on the brink of set point. After an error from Gettysburg, yet another block from Miller and Gallagher-Teske ended the contest at 25-21.
Stevenson 3, Haverford 0
In the second match of the day, Stevenson, a squad that entered the day as one of three in Division III to remain undefeated, proved to be a force worthy of its record as the Mustangs held Haverford to a negative hitting percentage in the match overall. Kosyagin paced the Fords with seven kills, while Miller chipped in 17 assists. Adore had three total blocks, while Matsumura and Filograna each notched seven digs.
The Fords pestered the Mustangs in the first set, as the two teams were tied at 10-10 before Stevenson unleashed a 3-0 run to prompt Haverford timeout. The Fords climbed back to within two at 18-16 following a Keener kill, but a late 5-1 run for the Mustangs put things away at 25-18. The second set again saw the sides level early, with Stevenson turning a 9-9 stalemate into a 14-9 lead with a solid offensive run. Unfortunately for Haverford, that strong start would continue as Stevenson closed out the set on a 16-3 spurt.
In the third, Stevenson jetted out to a 11-5 lead. Adore registered a kill to keep the Stevenson advantage to six as late as 19-13, but the Mustangs held the Fords to their lowest attacking output of the match in the closeout set to take a 25-14 victory.
In the thick of the race for the Centennial Conference tournament, the Fords will now return home for three crucial matches next week. Haverford hosts Washington College on Wednesday, October 16 (7 p.m.). The contest is Haverford's annual Faculty Appreciation Match. The squad then welcomes McDaniel (12 p.m.) and Stockton (4 p.m.) into Gooding '84 Arena for a tri-match on Saturday, October 19.