WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Hood College women's volleyball team were unable to come away with a match win against Rowan University and Catholic University, as the Blazers fell 3-0 and 3-1, respectively.
Set Scores
The Owls won the first match 25-15, 25-17, 25-16.
The Cardinals defeated the Blazers 22-25, 26-24, 25-16, 25-21.
Inside the Box Score
Ann Ofoegbu (Falling Waters, W.Va./Spring Mills) led all Hood players with 30 kills across both matches.
Jackie Malitzki (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) had nine service aces on the day.
Anna Daley (Erie, Pa./Harborcreek) picked up six total blocks against Catholic.
Ainslee Barger (Poolesville, Md./Poolesville) led the team with 30 total assists through the two matches.
Cam Madden (Carlisle, Pa./Big Spring) finished the match against the Cardinals with 13 digs.
How it Happened – Rowan
The first set started with teams exchanging kills, but a five-point run from Rowan put Hood in a bit of a bind, and despite the Blazers sticking a few points right behind them, with the score at 11-7, the Owls took the next seven points to take a lead they would not relinquish, jumping out to an early 1-0 match lead.
Although Hood found themselves behind early once again, a four-point streak spearheaded by Daley gave the Blazers the lead. After exchanging points for a while, they found themselves with a slight 15-14 advantage, but a six-point run from Rowan pushed them back ahead, and Hood was only able to get two more kills before the Owls took the set to put them in position to sweep.
As the Blazers looked for something to get them going and extend the match, they came out swinging with three aces in a row from Malitzki. Despite Rowan tying it just a few points later, both teams equaled each other as the Owls went on a bit of a run midway through the set to take a 17-12 lead. Even though Hood got four of the next five points to make it an 18-16 game, Rowan quickly ended any chance of a fourth set with a seven-point run as they completed the sweep.
How it Happened – Catholic
Looking to bounce back quickly, the Blazers held a steady lead in the first set of the day's final match, quickly getting back ahead when the Cardinals would tie things up. With the teams tied 21 late in the match, Hood secured four of the next five points to start things off on the right foot with a 1-0 match lead.
After another close start in the second set, Catholic exploded for a 13-1 run to put the Blazers in a seemingly impossible 15-6 hole., but Hood decided to do something similar, going on a 9-2 run to get themselves back into the game. Unfortunately, the Blazers would only be able to force overtime once, with the Cardinals scoring the next two points to even the match.
With Hood holding a slight 8-7 lead early in set three, Catholic again pulled out all the offensive stops, going on an 11-1 run to once again take control of the set. This time though, the Blazers were unable to make a similar comeback, as the Cardinals finished the set to put themselves on match point.
Hood started out ahead once again in the fourth set as they looked to send things to a fifth, but four straight points from Catholic midway through the put the Blazers behind once again. Despite a momentary point swap, a 5-1 Cardinals run would put them ahead 21-18 with a lead they would not relinquish, finishing the match and sending Hood home emptyhanded.
Up Next
The Blazers travel to Owings Mills, Maryland for a Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth matchup against Stevenson Wednesday, October 23 at 7 p.m.
