Post Match Interview

The Basics 
• Score: Johns Hopkins - 3 , Eastern – 0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-20)
• Records: JHU (22-7) • Eastern (25-7)
• Location: Babson Park, MA • Staake Gym
• The Short Story: The Johns Hopkins volleyball team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 3-0 victory over Eastern in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Babson College.

How it Happened
SET 1
•The Blue Jays opened up a 12-4 lead thanks to a 6-0 run on the serve of Eleni Panagopoulos. Louisa Kishton accounted for half of the points for Hopkins during the run as the junior registered three kills.
• The Eagles used a 3-0 run to pull to within six at 18-12, but the Blue Jays responded with a 3-0 run of their own to take a 21-12 advantage.
• A kill from Kishton gave the Blue Jays match point at 24-16 but Eastern got a kill from Caroline Shelby to stay in the match. With Cecilia Bauer serving, Nicole Hada placed a set to Michelle Abt who registered the kill for set point.

SET 2
 • Eastern pulled ahead 5-1 in set two but a 5-0 run from Hopkins, capped by an Abt ace, tied the match at six.
• With the match tied at seven, the Blue Jays went on a 5-0 run featuring two kills from Panagopoulos, who also registered a block assist during the run, to take a 12-7 lead.
• A 3-1 run from the Eagles brought them to within four points at 15-11, but Johns Hopkins continued to hold onto the lead.
• JHU scored four of the sets final five points capped by a Hada service ace to take a 25-17 set two victory.

SET 3
• Hopkins went up 12-7 in the set but Eastern used a 6-0 run to take a 13-12 lead.
• JHU regained the lead with a 4-1 run with two more kills from Panagopoulos to take a 17-15 lead. Eastern scored the next two points to tie the match, however, Hopkins scored seven of the next eight points to get to match point at 24-18.
• Eastern scored two-straight points to hold off set point, but an attacking error by the Eagles gave the Blue Jays the 25-20 set victory has Hopkins completed the sweep.
 
What it Means
• The Blue Jays have advanced past the first round of the NCAA in three straight seasons as Hopkins is now 4-5 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. Johns Hopkins is now 3-3 in first round games in the tournament.
• This is the second straight season the Blue Jays have earned a 3-0 victory in the opening round of the tournament as Hopkins defeated Kean (NJ) in three sets last year.
• This was the third meeting this season between JHU and Eastern and Hopkins won two of the three meetings. The Blue Jays improve to 1-1 against the Eagles in the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles still hold a 9-4 edge in the all-time series.

Inside the Box Score
• Panagopoulos led all players with 15 kills while Kishton added 12.
• Abt finished the match with seven kills, eight digs and three aces while Hada had a match-high 37 assists and led Hopkins with four aces.
• Shelby led Eastern with eight kills while Morgan Kline added 21 assists.
• Hopkins outhit Eastern .309 to .111.

Up Next
• The Blue Jays will play #23 Bowdoin tomorrow at 2:30 pm in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. JHU has never faced the Polar Bears.