FREDERICK, Md.--The Hood College volleyball team (5-15) picked
up a pair of 3-0 sweeps over Trinity University (D.C.) (0-19) and
Randolph College (1-22) Saturday in a tri-match at Gambrill
Gymnasium.
The Blazers won back-to-back matches for the second time this
season with three-set victories over the Tigers (25-12, 25-6, 25-9)
and Wildcats (25-19, 25-22, 25-15).
Hood downed Trinity for the third time this fall in decisive
fashion. The Blazers hit .290 and served up 17 aces in the match.
Kristan Hawkins and Brittany Lethbridge each recorded six kills
while Chelsea Weaver registered six aces and four digs. Brittany
Tribett compiled 18 assists and a team-high eight digs. Kristina
Straub served five aces and put down five kills.
After Randolph registered its first win of the season over the
Tigers (25-10, 25-7, 25-9), the Blazers and Wildcats squared off in
the final match of the afternoon.
It was a seesaw affair in the first set which saw five lead
changes and seven ties before the Blazers took control. Knotted at
17-17, Hood scored four straight points on two Wildcat errors, a
kill by Hawkins and an ace by Weaver. The Blazers surrendered just
two more points the rest of the set and locked it up on a Randolph
hitting error.
Randolph took the early lead in set number two, grabbing a 7-3
edge on an ace by Caroline English. But the Blazers chipped away at
the deficit and rallied to tie the set at 17-17 on one of Straub's
six aces. A Wildcat attack error gave the Blazers set point (24-20)
but Randolph earned the next two points to close to within 24-22.
However the Wildcats bowed to the Blazers on the next rally when a
Rebecca Folden serve went wide, allowing the Blazers to snag a 2-0
match lead.
The Blazers wore down the Wildcats in the third set, racing out
to a 13-3 advantage. Hood would not trail by more than eight in the
stanza and went on to clinch the match on a kill by Ashley Burns.
Hawkins and Burns smacked five kills apiece while Lethbridge
finished with three and Tribett and Megan Heidel chipped in one
each. Lethbridge also had a fine defensive effort, racking up 13
digs and a solo block.
Hood journeys to Capital Athletic Conference rival Gallaudet
University Wednesday for a 7 p.m. match.
