FREDERICK, Md.--The Hood College volleyball team (1-9) staved
off five match points in the third set and two more in the fourth
but could not overtake the Lancaster Bible College Chargers (5-9),
falling 3-1 (18-25, 17-25, 26-24, 23-25), Thursday evening at
Gambrill Gymnasium.
Clinging to a 6-4 lead in the first set, the Chargers outscored
the Blazers 11-3 to assume a 17-7 advantage and Hood would get no
closer than five the rest of the frame.
But the Blazers rebounded in the second set, scoring the first
three points on a Brittany Lethbridge kill and two LBC hitting
errors. The visitors would rally to tie the score three times
before taking the lead for good, 11-10, on a Blazer attack error.
Hood closed to within 19-17 following a long serve by Jenae Almas,
but LBC reeled off the final six points of the stanza to take a 2-0
lead in the match.
The Blazers and Chargers would go toe-to-toe in set number
three. The set saw nine lead changes and 14 ties. LBC was on the
verge of putting the match away after taking a 24-21 lead following
a Hood hitting error. But the Blazers showed tremendous tenacity
and took advantage of several Charger miscues to capture the third
set, 26-24.
Hood ripped off the first four points of set number four, but
the Chargers quickly responded by scoring the next four to knot
things up. Hood would maintain the upperhand however and used a
Kristan Hawkins kill to go up 11-8. From that point though, LBC
used an 11-3 run to turn a three-point deficit into a five-point
lead (19-14).
The Blazers wouldn't go away and gradually chipped away at the
margin, using a service error by Elissa Hunsberger to close to
within 20-19. The Chargers would not surrender the lead though and
once again found themselves a point away from clinching the match.
But Hood denied them two match points on the strength of a Hawkins
kill and a Charger attack error. However LBC went on to take the
match after Hawkins' serve went just wide.
Hawkins matched her career-high with nine kills and posted five
blocks while Kristina Straub and Lethbridge each contributed seven
kills. Straub also totaled 13 digs, set up 13 kills and served up
two aces. Chelsea Weaver racked up 32 digs and Leah Garland had a
double-double with 17 assists and 11 digs.
Hood returns to action Tuesday against Capital Athletic
Conference rival St. Mary's College (Md.) at 7 p.m.
