FREDERICK, Md.--The Hood College volleyball team (1-12, 0-5 CAC)
fell in three sets (25-14, 25-20, 25-21) to the visiting Stevenson
University Mustangs (8-11, 2-2 CAC) in a Capital Athletic
Conference match at Gambrill Gymnasium Tuesday evening.
In the first set, the Blazers fell behind early but closed to
within three, 12-9, on blocks by junior Kristan Hawkins and
sophomore Megan Heidel. The Mustangs reeled off the next four
consecutive points and Hood got no closer than five the rest of the
way as the Mustangs won the set, 25-14.
The Blazers and Mustangs traded points to start the second set
before Stevenson took the lead for good, 7-6, on an ace by Alexa
Carney. Stevenson closed out the match on a kill by Kristen Lubeski
giving the Mustangs a 2-0 edge in the match.
Hood raced out to a four-point lead to begin the third set,
using blocks by Kristina Straub and Leah Garland and an attack
error by Carney to go up 7-3. The Blazers' biggest lead of the
frame swelled to six points, 11-5, following an ace by Straub. But
the Mustangs used a 9-2 run to turn a 15-11 deficit into a 20-17
lead, capped by an Amy Rudolph kill. Ashley Burns put down a kill
to inch the Blazers to within one, 21-20, but the Mustangs locked
up the match on kills by Mercer and Carney for their second CAC win
of the season.
Stevenson ended a five-match losing skid and moved into a tie
for fifth place in the league standings. Avery Gabbard paced the
Mustang offense with a match-high nine kills, while Straub finished
with a team-high five kills for Hood.
Brittany Tribett set up 11 of Hood's 15 kills while Chelsea
Weaver racked up 15 digs for the Blazers.
Hood returns to action Wednesday at regional rival Goucher
College at 7 p.m.
