Elizabethtown College’s women’s volleyball team took a road trip this past week to Washington, D.C. where they faced off against fellow Landmark Conference team, the Catholic Cardinals. The Blue Jays hoped to kick start their Landmark Conference record with a win for their first game of conference play. Catholic, after a rocky start to their season, hoped to get themselves back on track with a key win at home.
The Cardinals took an early lead in the first set against Etown, however kills by junior outside hitters Lucy Stanek and Bailey McFeaters kept the Blue Jays only three points away. Etown was able to spark a rally to flip the score off of a kill by McFeaters, a few attack errors by the Cardinals, and back to back aces by first-year setter Zoey Henning.
The lead continued to flip back and forth between the two sides, making the set extremely competitive to start the match.
A block by Stanek gave the Blue Jays a 18-17 lead in the set, which was reciprocated by an attacking error by Etown. Graduate middle blocker Kinsey Reuwer led the Blue Jays at the end of the set, picking up a block and a kill to give Etown a three point advantage. McFeaters was able to close out the set with a kill to win 25-22, despite Catholic’s last ditch efforts to force extras.
Etown came out hot in the second set, dominating the court early with kills by sophomore outside hitter Aubrey Sullivan and Henning. The Blue Jays added four straight points fueled by two kills by senior setter Marah Glenn. Etown continued to increase the Catholic deficit, with Henning adding another ace to her resume along with a kill by Stanek and an ace from first-year defensive specialist Nikki Klages.
Catholic attempted to claw back at the end of the set, despite being down 20-11 after a kill from Stanek. Etown closed the door on the Cardinals after another kill by Stanek off an assist from Glenn, followed by three straight attacking errors to secure the second set 25-12.
The Blue Jays rocketted out to another hot start in the third set, exploding to a 9-2 lead. The run was led by two aces, one each from Klages and sophomore libero Addy Reed. Catholic began to slowly form a comeback, taking nine of the next 13 points to reduce their deficit to two. Despite two kills from first-year middle blocker Tori Obarow, the Cardinals were able to tie the set at 15.
Etown wasn’t going to give up their two set lead easily, as they rallied off of back to back aces by Stanek to regain their lead.
Stanek added to her total by picking up an ace and another kill to lead the Cardinals 21-17. Reuwer, McFeaters, and Glenn all contributed to two blocks later in the set, followed by kills by Stanek and Obarow, closing the door on Catholic and defeating their Landmark Conference opponent in the third set 25-21.
Stanek led the Blue Jays with 11 kills along with two aces and two blocks. Henning led Etown in aces with three as the team combined for a total of eight in the contest. Reuwer added three blocks in the win as it helped cement her position as the Landmark Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
The Blue Jays move to 9-5 on the season and 1-0 in Landmark Conference play. Etown will face a plethora of opponents this coming week, starting with Susquehanna on Oct. 13, Moravian on Oct. 16, and a tri-match against Landmark Conference opponent Wilkes and non-conference opponent Alvernia on Oct. 17, all at home.
