FREDERICK, Md. – The Hood College women's volleyball team put a fear into the hearts of Messiah University, but could not come away with the victory, falling 3-0 in straight sets in the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth match.
Set Scores
The Falcons won 25-21, 25-20, 25-19.
Inside the Box Score
Cam Madden (Carlisle, Pa./Big Spring) led the Blazers with nine kills.
Maria Ricketts (Adamstown, Md./New Life Christian) had the most assists with 22 and most digs with 12.
Skylar Plante (Big Pool, Md./Clear Spring) ended with four blocks.
How it Happened
The defending conference champions looked to run away with things early on, putting Hood in a 9-3 hole to start the match. The Blazers did not give up though, making up the difference a couple kills at a time until a 7-2 run led by
Sami Betley (Bel Air, Md./Mercy) and Madden tied things at 14 before taking their first lead of the match at 17-16.
Hood eventually made it a 19-18 advantage, but a 6-0 run from Messiah completely turned the momentum away from the Blazers, with the Falcons eventually taking the set and a 1-0 match lead.
Set two was similar to the first, as Hood stayed right with Messiah at the start until the Falcons managed to score five straight points and make it a 12-7 deficit for the home team. Again, though the Blazers staged a comeback, responding by taking the next four points to be behind just one. Unfortunately, after Messiah took four of the next five points, Hood could not find another four-plus point run in it, with the Falcons closing out the set and putting the Blazers down 2-0 in the match.
Instead of keeping up with Messiah in the third set, Hood's offense started off hot, taking the first three points as it tried to force a fourth set. While the Falcons eventually tied and took a one-point lead, a 5-1 run for the Blazers put the home team ahead 12-9 halfway through. Unfortunately for Hood, a 7-1 run from Messiah put the visiting team ahead 16-13, and while the Blazers were able to make it a two-point game at points, it was not enough to stop the Falcons from completing the 3-0 sweep.
For the Opponent
Makenzie Adams led the Falcons with 18 kills and six aces.
Cassidy Dell finished the evening with 31 assists.
Notes
Hood falls to 5-12 (1-2) on the season, while Messiah improves to 10-7 (2-1).
Up Next
The Blazers head to St. Davids, Pennsylvania for a MAC Commonwealth match against Eastern University Tuesday, October 14 at 7 p.m.
