By Chrissy Segrest
Elm Staff Writer
Volleyball went head-to-head with Marymount, Dickinson, and Haverford, coming out of the week with a record of 15-8 overall.
Starting on Wednesday, Oct. 4 the Shorewomen went on to play three games in one week, beginning with a tough loss from the Marymount Saints. On Saturday, Oct. 7 the Shorewomen took on Dickinson for a 3-0 sweep of the Red Devils. To end out the week-long journey on Oct. 11, Washington College took on Haverford in a highly anticipated conference match. The Fords came away with the win, but the shorewomen fought hard every match, going deep into each set.
The match against the Saints started off in rapid pace. The Shorewomen punched 16 points onto the scoreboard, winning by a narrow one point. The Saints took the ball and ran with it, gaining a 10-1 run to win the set.
WC took control on the court, starting off the next set 9-6. Marymount went on to win the set. The Shorewomen started out slow in the third and final set with a 1-4 trail. The Saints took the ball and ran with it, winning the set 25-12.
At the conclusion of the game, junior Lizzie Baden was named to the Goose Nation Shorewomen of the Week for having nine kills against the Saints and being a close second on the team for most kills. Baden has 138 on the season so far. Senior and team captain Taylor Horan notched her 50th career “double-double” with 20-assists and 10-digs, both of which were team highs.
With the tough loss behind them, WC rebounded with a sweep of conference opponent Dickinson College. During the first set, the Red Devils and WC were close in score. Baden was able to help turn a 23-24 deficit around to get the 26-24 win with a kill. Senior team captain Aliana Geissberger and freshman Abby Smith were able to make a block to bring the score to 25-24. The Shorewomen were able to turn it into a win by taking advantage of an attack error from the Red Devils.
Starting off the second set, the Red Devils and the Shorewomen were tied nine points a piece. Dickinson went on a 7-1 run to secure a 16-10 lead. They continued that momentum and won the set 25-16.
Starting the third set WC came out strong. WC outscored the Devils 23-7. Horan and freshman Kylie Peets gave them an extra boost and an ace from Smith secured the win.
In the fourth set the Devils went on a 6-1 run. WC was determined to knock out the win, and they won five of the last eight points in the set to tie at 23-23. Geissberger aided the win on two aces to win the final set on 25-23.
Senior Kaitlyn Marino had a standout game, as she had 10 kills. This led the team and was tied for a match high. She also had four blocks, to tie her career best.
“We’re really focusing on playing our game and controlling what we can on our side of the net,” Marino said. “Looking forward it’s about consistency, making sure that we can play our game all the time as well as keeping our energy as high as possible through the whole match.”
With the win on their mind, WC took on Haverford. The Fords swept WC, but the Shorewomen put up a fight.
During the first set, the Shorewomen were down 8-4. The Fords dominated the court with an 8-3 run, and then won the set 25-16.
During the second set, the Shorewomen were down 13-2, but scored multiple points, taking the lead 15-13. The Fords then took their run all the way to 24-19. WC answered up until we cut the lead to only 24-23 on a kill by Baden. Haverford managed to get the final point on a block. With the third and final set underway, the teams were tied 24-24. The Fords were able to muster out the win.
Even with the loss, the team did well in individual stats. Baden had a game record with 13 kills, as well as 3 blocks. Horan had 27 assists to lead the team and 11 digs. Sophomore Cassie Kowalski had a career best 19 digs and three aces to tie with Marino for the match best. Peets had a team high of four blocks and is a close second on the team for overall blocks.
“I want to make our passers lives easier, but I can’t block every ball that comes over the net,” Peets said. “I trust my team enough to know that if I don’t block a ball there is still a good chance we will dig the ball and get the point.”
The Shorewomen’s next home game is Saturday, Oct. 21 against Elizabethtown (senior day) and Hood College at noon and 4 p.m. respectively.