The Elizabethtown women’s volleyball team traveled to Carlisle, Pa. on Saturday, Sept. 16 for a doubleheader. The team took a loss in both matches, falling short two sets to three against Dickinson College and again against Washington & Jefferson College, moving to 3-5 on the season.
The first match of the day for the Jays kicked off at 12 p.m. against Dickinson College. This one was the definition of a back and forth affair. Each team traded blows, going the distance of five sets.
Etown took an early advantage, taking the first set 25-20. Junior outside hitter Savannah Lesley was unstoppable in the early going. Her five kills in the first set led the team. Etown lost the second set, though. The team fell behind early but kept things interesting. However, they wouldn’t be able to keep up as Dickinson would put together a string of five straight points that would ultimately put the set out of reach, eventually taking the set 25-20.
The next two sets were much of the same story. The Blue Jays gained some early momentum. It seemed like every member of the team was contributing, pushing the issue and forcing errors on the opposing end, as they’d win this one 25-19. However, they couldn’t put their opponent away in the fourth set. It looked as if Etown was about to secure the win up 23-22 late too. They would let the set slip through their grasp though, as Dickinson would win three straight points to force a fifth and final set.
Unfortunately, the Jays ran out of gas in the fifth set. The team committed several errors in the final set that would put them at too much of a deficit to make up. They would lose six of the last seven points, dropping the deciding set 15-9.
The Jays looked to rebound later in the day against Washington & Jefferson College at 3 p.m. Once again, the teams on the court put together another match. Neither team could get too far out in front, going point for point with each other.
The first set was truly a game of runs. On six different occasions, one team would go on a streak of three straight points, but each time the opponent would find a way to climb back into it. Ultimately, the Jays dropped the opening set, 25-23. It was a quick turnaround from that set to the next two. Etown would go up two sets to one after winning back-to-back sets, 25-21 and 25-20. Junior outside hitter Karlee Ray found her stride at this point, helping her team pull in front.
Unfortunately, Etown stumbled in the fourth set. With a chance to notch a win, the Jays were unable to hold Washington & Jefferson at bay. The opponent made sure there would be a fifth set after earning an impressive win, 25-17. The final set was much more of a nailbiter. Neither team was willing to let the moment slip away from them, keeping pace with the other. The tides would finally turn in the late moments. With things knotted up at 12, Etown came up short after Washington & Jefferson rallied for three straight to win it 15-12.
Regardless, it was a good effort from the Blue Jays. Lesley combined for 33 kills on the day, sophomore setter Jena Minnick set teammates up well all day, tallying 44 assists over the two matches, and sophomore right side setter Kate Barbon dashed all over the court, helping the team in any way possible. A tough day as the team moves to 3-5, but they’ll have the chance to bounce back on Thursday, Sept. 21 against Haverford College at home at 7:30 p.m.
