Sasha Gorelik, Johns Hopkins
BALTIMORE, MD –
The Basics
• Score: Johns Hopkins 3, Muhlenberg 1 (23-25, 25-12, 25-9, 25-18)
• Records: JHU (18-8, 10-0 CC), Muhlenberg (20-11, 7-3 CC)
• Location: Baltimore, MD · Goldfarb Gymnasium
• The Short Story: The first-seeded Johns Hopkins volleyball team defeated No. 4 Muhlenberg 3-1 in the Centennial Conference semifinal match. The Blue Jays will face No. 2 Swarthmore in the championship match Sunday at 1 p.m. in Goldfarb Gym.
How it Happened
• The teams battled in the opening set, with Muhlenberg notching an ace for the set point and 25-23 victory. The Blue Jays posted their worst hitting percentage (.081), while the Mules recorded their strongest set offensively (.133). Elizabeth Wuerstle and Erica Johnston each tallied three kills in the opening set, and Wuerstle added a service ace. Esther Hong returned to the lineup for Johns Hopkins, tallying seven digs, a set-high in the match.
• Hopkins changed the momentum in the second set, defeating the Mules 25-12. The Blue Jays pulled away to a 12-3 lead behind the serve of Genevieve Thomas. Ally Hirsch and Louisa Kishton led JHU with four kills apiece, and Kishton also added two assists, a team-high six digs and one solo block.
• The Blue Jays continued their dominance in the third set with a 25-9 victory, closing out the set with a 9-1 run. Kristi Rhead led Hopkins with four kills without an error, while Kishton continued her stellar play with three kills on three attempts. Sarah Elnozahy guided the JHU offense with 13 assists; the Blue Jays recorded a match-high 16 kills in the set with a .394 hitting percentage.
• Johns Hopkins closed out the match with a 25-18 win in the fourth set. Wuerstle notched four kills without an error, while Kishton added at least three kills for the third straight set. Sasha Gorelik served three aces in a row to extend JHU’s lead to 19-13, finishing with a team-high five service aces in the match.
Inside the Box Score
• Sasha Gorelik recorded a career-high five service aces in the match, one shy of the individual season-high for Johns Hopkins.
• Sarah Elnozahy and Louisa Kishton each tallied two solo blocks. This marks the first match this season that two Blue Jays have recorded multiple solo blocks.
• Elizabeth Wuerstle led Johns Hopkins in kills for the 12th time this season.
What it Means
• The Blue Jays improve to 21-6 against the Mules all-time, with a 2-1 record against Muhlenberg in the postseason.
Centennial Championship Spotlight
• This marks the fourth time that the Blue Jays have earned the No. 1 seed in the Centennial Conference tournament, improving their record as the first seed to 3-2.
• JHU will play in the Centennial Conference Championship Game for the seventh time.
• Hopkins holds a 3-3 record in the championship game, winning its lone appearance as the first seed and host in 2011.
• The Blue Jays have won their three most recent appearances in the Centennial Conference Championship game with consecutive victories in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Up Next
• Hopkins will host No. 2 Swarthmore in the Centennial Conference Championship November 6 in Goldfarb Gym at 1 p.m.
Mehra den Braven, Swarthmore
BALTIMORE—The Swarthmore College volleyball team advanced to the Centennial Conference finals for the second time in program history with a well-earned, 25-23, 25-22, 25-19 win over the third-seeded Haverford Fords on Saturday, Nov. 5.
Mehra den Braven paced the Swarthmore attack, which finished with a .291 hitting percentage, on 15 kills as Sarah Wallacechipped in 10 with no errors. Sarah Girard led the team with 12 digs and Malia Scott recorded a double-double behind 16 assists and 10 digs.
The Garnet will face Johns Hopkins on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 1 p.m. for the conference crown and an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.