FREDERICK, Md. – As the ball last touched by an opposing player looped up and hit the floor out of bounds, the crowd inside Woodsboro Bank Arena erupted in cheers in celebration of the Hood College women's volleyball team qualifying for the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth Championships for the first time since 2015 with a 3-2 reverse sweep of Widener University.
Set Scores
The Blazers came back to win 22-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-19, 15-13.
Inside the Box Score
Ann Ofoegbu (Falling Waters, W.Va./Spring Mills) led the team with a season-high 26 kills.
Maria Ricketts (Adamstown, Md./New Life Christian) had the most assists with 49.
Cam Madden (Carlisle, Pa./Big Spring) finished the night with a team-leading 17 digs.
Skylar Plante (Big Pool, Md./Clear Spring) ended with five total blocks in the match.
How it Happened
The Pride's offense was hot from the jump, quickly putting the Blazers in an 8-3 hole. Hood fought back though, getting within one at 9-8 before taking a 13-12 lead with a five-point run. Widener responded in kind with a six-point run, and a late push from the Blazers fell just short of forcing overtime as the home team fell behind 1-0 in the match.
It looked like Hood would be able to tie the match when it raced out to a 9-4 lead in set two, but a 5-0 run from the Pride shortly after tied things 12-12. Neither team was able to take too big of a lead after that, but the Blazers held a late 20-18 advantage and were posed to take the set until a 7-1 run by Widener stole the set for the Pride and put Hood's back against the wall.
Needing a spark, the Blazers unfortunately came out flat and saw themselves down 8-4 early in the third set, but they completely flipped momentum to their side with a monster 12-1 run for a 16-9 lead. Seemingly upset at the home crowd's excitement,
Widener responded with a 12-3 run and was suddenly ahead 21-19. Luckily Hood was able to gather itself and get its head back in the game and take six of the next eight points for the set win and another chance to keep the match going.
Set four was just as close as the others for the most part, as both squads exchanged points and the lead often. Despite the Blazers holding a 15-10 lead midway through, a 6-1 run from the Pride tied things up for the umpteenth time. Holding a slim 20-19 advantage, a kill from Ofoegbu started a 5-0 run that forced a decisive fifth set and send the fans into a frenzy.
After Hood held a 4-2 lead to start the fifth set thanks in part to an ace and a kill from Ofoegbu, Widener managed to quiet the crowd with a 5-1 run for the lead.
Anna Daley (Erie, Pa./Harborcreek) provided another spark the team needed though, as the senior scored four of the Blazers' next seven points for a 12-10 lead. Ofoegbu got another kill shortly after to put Hood one point away from completing the comeback, and a misplay from the Pride led to their free ball slowly creep out of bounds before hitting the floor and giving the Blazers their first reverse sweep of the season.
For the Opponent
Azira Benjamin ended the night with 15 kills.
Campbell Chronister led Widener with 23 assists.
Liz Barnes had 19 digs.
Notes
The Blazers finish the regular season 8-19 (4-3) and qualify for the MAC Commonwealth playoffs, while the Pride drop to 13-13 (4-3), and are eliminated from playoff contention.
Up Next
Hood gets a week-long break before squaring off against No. 1 seeded Eastern University in the MAC Commonwealth Championships Wednesday, November 15 with the time of the match to be announced later.
