FREDERICK, Md.--In a tightly-contested match, the visiting
Goucher College Gophers edged the Hood College volleyball team 3-1
(30-25, 24-30, 20-30, 25-30) in a non-conference match Thursday
evening at Gambrill Gymnasium. The Blazers fall to 2-11 overall
while Goucher improves to 12-10.
In the first game, the two teams traded points for most of the
set until the Blazers pulled ahead 16-14 on kills by freshman Leah
Garland and classmate Ashley Burns. Although the Blazers were
unable to extend their advantage by more than five, they never
relinquished the lead and took the first game, 30-25, on a Gopher
service error.
The second set mirrored the first as the Blazers again got out
to the fast start. Midway through the set with the score deadlocked
at 19-19, Hood used a kill by junior Ashley Bryan and a service ace
by junior Caroline Woodhams to go up 21-19. But the Gophers fought
back to tie the contest for the 12th time at 24-24 on a kill by
Caitlin Davis. Goucher capitalized on several Blazer miscues and
scored the final eight points of the game to even the match at one
game apiece.
Goucher maintained the upperhand in the third set, racing out of
the gates to take a 13-4 lead. The Blazers closed to within 18-11
on a kill by Bryan, but Hood got no closer as the Gophers captured
the third game, 30-20.
This time it was the Blazers who were forced to play catch-up.
Trailing 16-13, Hood used three consecutive Gopher errors to draw
even at 16-16. The two squads see-sawed back and forth and Hood
finally regained a 20-19 edge on a Lindsey Nagy kill. But with the
score knotted at 21-21, the Gophers outscored the Blazers 9-4 down
the stretch to clinch the victory.
Nagy finished with nine kills and 11 digs, while Bryan also
tallied nine kills and eight digs. Woodhams set up 24 Blazer kills
and registered a double-double with 14 digs. Junior Jamie Bussey
led the defense with 21 digs while Burns and Garland totaled six
kills apiece.
The Blazers return to action Wednesday, Oct. 18, hosting Trinity
University in a pivotal Atlantic Women's Colleges Conference
matchup. The Blazers and Tigers are battling for the fourth and
final playoff spot in the AWCC Tournament, slated for Nov. 4 at
Hood College.
