GRANTHAM, Pa. - The Hood College women's volleyball team hit the road on Tuesday evening to face off against the Falcons of Messiah University but fell in straight sets.
Set Scores
Messiah won 25-11, 25-8, 25-16.
Inside the Box Score
Cam Madden (Carlisle, Pa./Big Spring) led the team in kills with five and tallied an ace in the contest.
Anna Huber (Bel Air, Md./Greater Grace Christian Academy) led the way in assist with five.
Maria Ricketts (Adamstown, Md./New Life Christian) had four assist, and led the team in digs with five.
How it Happened
The Blazers were down 4-1 early into set one, but a service error by the Falcons and a
Kendall Massey (Upper Marlboro, Md./Largo) kill had the Blazers now down just 4-3. Hood went up 5-4, but Messiah went on a run to now lead 14-5.
Cam Madden (Carlisle, Pa./Big Spring) would find
Tara Gosney (Centreville, Pa./Centreville) who would get a much-needed point on the board for the Blazers to stop the bleeding as it was now 14-6. The Blazers battled to stay in reach of the Falcons, and a
Sami Betley (Bel Air, Md./Mercy) kill helped Hood as the score was now at 16-8. Messiah's offense was rolling and now took a 20-8 lead over Hood. The Blazers fought to the bitter end, but the Falcons were able to go up 1-0 in the match after a 25-11 win in set one.
Hod was able to take the early advantage over Messiah after
Maria Ricketts (Adamstown, Md./New Life Christian) would set teammate
Emerson O'Connor (Woodbridge, Va./Forest Park) up for a kill and give the Blazers a 2-1 lead. Messiah answered shortly after and put some points on the board to help them go up 8-3 over Hood.
Janiyah Thornton (Waldorf, Md./Southern Maryland Christian Academy) was able to chip away into the Falcons lead with a kill, as it was not 8-4, still in favor of Messiah. The Blazers found some juice after a
Cam Madden (Carlisle, Pa./Big Spring) kill as they looked to turn the tide on Messiah now down 12-7. Messiah went on a 11 point run in set two to go up 23-7 and was able to win set two 25-8 and go up 2-0 in the match.
The Blazers looked to find some rhythm in set three to avoid the sweep.
Janiyah Thornton (Waldorf, Md./Southern Maryland Christian Academy) would stand tall in the middle for Hood and earn a well needed block to give some confidence back for Hood as they went up 3-2. Messiah answered back and went up 7-4, but
Whitney Paul (Baltimore, Md./Mercy) earned a kill to keep the Blazers within contention, as it was now 7-5. Hood went down 10-6, but Paul continued on the attack for the Blazers and earned another kill as Hood was only down by three. As the set progressed, the Falcons went up 16-11, but the Blazers battled to stay within reach, and a service ace from
Cam Madden (Carlisle, Pa./Big Spring) helped the Blazers out, with the score now at 17-14. Messiah had a late set run and went up 24-15. A late kill but
Brynn Cochran (Frederick, Md./Governor Thomas Johnson) gave Hood some hope to avoid the sweep but Messiah shut the door with a 25-16 win, and the straight set sweep.
For the Opponent
Sydney Wolfe had nine kills.
Clara Conner tallied 27 assist.
Analysis
Hood was down in digs 32-20, and assist 31-15.
Notes
Hood falls to 2-15 overall, and 2-3 in conference play.
Messiah improves to 11-7 overall and 3-1 in conference play.
Up Next
The squad takes a brief break from conference play to take on Wooster College on Saturday, October 17, at 11 AM and 1 PM as the team will celebrate Senior Day.
