FREDERICK, Md.--FREDERICK, Md.--The Hood College volleyball team
(0-4) dropped a 3-1 decision (11-25, 25-23, 12-25, 12-25) to the
visiting Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays (6-1) Tuesday evening
in the Blazers' home opener at Gambrill Gymnasium.
In the first set, the Blue Jays raced out to a 9-1 lead on the
strength of kills by five different players. Consecutive service
aces by Hood senior Ashley Burns closed to gap to 17-7, but the
Blue Jays outscored Hood 8-4 the rest of the way and captured the
first set on a kill by Sarah Feicht.
The Blazers had to play catch up in the second set as well,
rallying from seven points down to eventually knot the set at
18-18. Hood took its first lead of the evening, 20-19, on a service
ace by junior Kristan Hawkins. Three straight hitting errors by JHU
pushed the Blazer lead to 23-20. After a few more exchanges,
another Blue Jay miscue gave the Blazers their first set point at
24-22. A kill by Allison Cappelaere inched the Blue Jays closer
(24-23), but KC Stingl's attack error on the next series clinched
the second set for Hood.
Hopkins doubled up the Blazers to start the third set, using a
Becky Paynter ace to go up 12-6. Hood would not get closer than
five the rest of the frame as the Blue Jays took a 2-1 lead in the
match.
The Blue Jays continued to roll in the fourth set and, after
amassing 16 kills to just two errors in the set, closed out the
match with a 25-12 win.
Hood's Brittany Lethbridge smacked down a career-high five kills
to go along with two blocks and two digs. Leah Garland and Kristina
Straub totaled four kills apiece. Chelsea Weaver finished with a
match-high 17 digs and Burns contributed 10 digs and three aces.
Hopkins was led by Alex Zenoff, who put down a match-high 13
kills while Paynter set up 40 Blue Jay kills. JHU also served up 10
aces and amassed 7.5 team blocks.
The Blazers host their Capital Athletic Conference opener
Wednesday against the University of Mary Washington at 7 p.m.
