The Elizabethtown College women’s volleyball team took on a local, non-conference opponent in Lancaster Bible College this past week for a mid-week matchup.
The Blue Jays, led by the Landmark defensive athlete of the week in graduate middle blocker Kinsey Reuwer, were ready to take on the Chargers and propel themselves ahead into the weekend. The Blue Jays had come into the matchup hot, winning nine straight sets heading into the matchup.
In the first set, Etown took an early lead as first-year middle blocker Tori Obarow and junior outside hitter Lucy Stanek were able to pick up their first kills of the contest. The Blue Jays built on the initial lead with two more kills by Stanek and the first kill of the evening by Reuwer.
Despite the traditional fast paced offense by the Blue Jays, the Chargers were able to slow Etown down to their pace. This resulted in the Blue Jays struggling to find a rhythm early on, giving Lancaster Bible enough momentum to spark a rally.
The Chargers clawed their way back into the set late, tying the first set even at 19. Lancaster Bible continued pushing, carrying a 22-20 lead into the closing stages of the set. The Blue Jays were not done yet, with sophomore libero Addy Reed and sophomore setter Claire Erdman both picking up aces to lead Lancaster Bible 25-24. Despite another kill to tie the set up, Etown found enough momentum, with Stanek picking up a kill and the Blue Jays forcing an attacking error to win the set 27-25.
Etown carried their late set momentum into the second set, bursting out to a 9-3 lead. Erdman was able to pick up an ace and a kill in this run while senior right side Sierra Plummer added two kills. Just as they had before, the Chargers were able to charge back into the fight, only trailing by two halfway through the set.
The Blue Jays, off of back-to-back kills by Obarow and Reuwer, were able to regain their lead as they attempted to salvage their streak of set wins. Lancaster Bible wasn’t out of the fight yet as they continued to apply pressure, forcing another close set at the end as they trailed 23-20. Etown was able to cap off the set after forcing an attacking error by the Chargers, picking up their second set 25-21.
The third set started off with back-and-forth scoring, with seemingly every point scored by the Chargers being matched by the Blue Jays. Etown was able to take a small two point lead off of kills by Stanek and Reuwer, which expanded to four after another kill by Obarow and an ace from first-year setter Zoey Henning.
Lancaster Bible was a team that didn’t quit, tying the contest up at 17 after multiple kills by the front row, and forcing the Blue Jays to spark another late set rally. Etown picked up four straight points;, however, this was matched by the Chargers, tying the set at 22. The Blue Jays were on match point after a kill by Stanek and an attacking error, buthowever, Lancaster Bible could not be denied, forcing two errors by Etown.
Etown made quick work of the set going into extras, with Plummer picking up a kill and an attacking error from the Chargers sealing the deal as the Blue Jays picked up a 26-24 set win and a 3-0 win overall.
Stanek led the team overall in kills by a wide margin, picking up 16, leading both sides. Reuwer finished behind Stanek with seven kills and four blocks while Erdman picked up two of Etown’s five aces in the contest.
The Blue Jays move to 13-5 on the season and will take on Wilkes College and Alvernia University in a tri-match on Oct. 17 for senior day.
