Elizabethtown College women’s volleyball team held a tri-match this past weekend against Marymount and Rowan, sporting a different color than the traditional blue and white. Dig Pink was the theme with pink balloons around Thompson Gym and pink ribbons worn in many of the players’ hair. The message this weekend was for the Dig Pink foundation, supporting the connection of volleyball to meaningful cancer research. The team had sold pink shirts in support of the foundation and to raise money to donate to the cause.
Etown faced off against Marymount in the first game of the tri-match, and they came out roaring with energy, winning the first five points. Two kills by junior outside hitter Bailey McFeaters led the charge by the Blue Jays accompanied by a kill from first-year middle blocker Tori Obarow. Junior outside hitter Lucy Stanek got her chances this set as well, picking up three early kills as Etown surged ahead to a 13-4 lead in the set.
Marymount found some footing in the middle of the set, rallying to five straight points and narrowing the lead to four. Etown was able to remain afloat in the set by kills by McFeaters, Obarow and Stanek. The Saints tied the set even at 21, but two kills by McFeaters, a service ace by sophomore Bailey Doherty and a kill by Stanek sealed the deal in the first set, winning 25-22.
Marymount got ahead early in the second set, however, a string of aces by the Blue Jays got them back in front with first-year setter Zoey Henning picking up one, first-year defensive specialist Nikki Klages picking up two and sophomore libero gaining two aces of her own.
Etown found themselves in a similar situation as the first, tied at 21 in the set. The Blue Jays took control of the last four points, with one kill each from McFeaters, Obarow, senior setter Marah Glenn and sophomore outside hitter Aubrey Sullivan.
Etown fell in the third set 15-8, but Stanek led the Blue Jays ahead, picking up four kills in the span of six points to bring Etown within one. Doherty added another ace to her resume and Obarow picked up a kill to bring the Saints’ lead within one. Marymount found control through the rest of the set, winning the third set 25-20.
The Blue Jays picked up the pace in the fourth set, rocketing to a 9-2 lead off of two kills by Stanek and two aces by sophomore defensive specialist Claire Erdman. Etown continued to hold off Marymount by forcing attack errors by the Saints, jumping out to an 11-point lead. Glenn and McFeaters finished off the match by picking up one kill each, defeating the Saints 3-1.
Stanek led the Blue Jays in the effort, posting 15 kills, followed by McFeaters with 13. Erdman and Reed both had three aces each as the Blue Jays picked up 12 aces as a team. Graduate middle blocker Kinsey Reuwer led Etown with four blocks, with Stanek and Glenn both picking up three blocks each in the win.
In game two, Rowan took care of business against the Blue Jays, sweeping Etown 3-0. Reuwer led the Blue Jays’ efforts in this game with 10 kills, followed by McFeaters with seven and Stanek with six. Reuwer added three more blocks in this game, tied with Obarow for the most in the second match.
The Blue Jays moved to 8-4 on the season after the split at home. Etown will take a long road trip, but will be back on Oct. 8 against Lancaster Bible College for a non-conference weekday matchup in-between a couple of Landmark Conference opponents.
