PHILADELPHIA, Pa.- Looking to stretch its winning streak to six in a row, the West Chester women's volleyball team returned to action on Tuesday evening against non-league foe University of the Sciences. After capturing a back-and-forth opening set, the Golden Rams picked up the victory by a final of 3-0 (25-21, 25-14, 25-22) to improve to 9-3 on the season.
In the first set, Sciences jumped to an early 3-1 lead before West Chester responded with a quick 5-0 run to claim its first lead of the match at 5-3. The two sides traded points until Sciences reclaimed a slim 14-13 lead before West Chester responded with another 5-0 run to claim an 18-14 lead late in the opening set. The Devils had another run left in them as they closed to within one point, making the score 20-19 and 21-20 late in the first set but West Chester was able to hold on for the 25-21 opening set victory.
In the second set, Sciences again jumped to an early lead as the Devils led by a score of 4-2 in the early stages before West Chester countered with a 10-2 run to erase the early deficit and take a 12-6 lead midway through the set. With this lead in hand, West Chester put together a strong second-set performance to earn the 25-14 victory, which included a 7-0 run late in the set to claim a commanding 22-11 lead en route to the set victory.
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In the third set, Sciences continued to battle as the host Devils once again raced out to an early 4-2 lead over the visiting Golden Rams. The Golden Rams countered with a 5-2 run, which allowed them to reclaim a slim lead in what would be the final set. From this point, West Chester and Sciences traded points as the Golden Rams found themselves with a slim 11-10 lead nearing the midway point of the set. From here, West Chester went on a 6-1 run to claim a more comfortable 17-11 lead in the third set. The Devils answered back with a 7-2 run of their own to make the score 19-18 late in the set but this was as close as they would get as a
Grace Whitney (Glenside, Pa./Abington) kill halted the rally and gave the Golden Rams back a two-point lead late in the set.
Maria Harding (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) finished things off for the Golden Rams with one her of her team-best 11 kills on the evening off an assist from
Jamie Byrne (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) to lift the Purple and Gold to a 25-22 third-set victory and 3-0 match win.
Harding and
Julia Vreeswyk (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) tied for the team lead in kills with 11 each while Vreesywk also tied fo r the team lead in hitting percentage, ending her night hitting at a .308 clip. Reigning PSAC East Athlete of the Week
Olivia Rudjord (Fogelsville, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic), also turned in another strong performance registering 10 kills and one ace in the victory.
Byrne also turned in a strong performance as she recorded her seventh (and fourth consecutive) double-double of the season with a team-best 36 assists and 13 digs while
Sydney Heffner (Bath, Pa./Northampton) led the team in digs with 19 on the evening.
As a team, West Chester ended the night with a .243 hitting percentage while holding it hosts to a hitting percentage of just .047.
West Chester will be back in action on Friday, October 1
st at Lock Haven as the team continues its seven-match road swing with that match set to begin at 7 p.m. inside Thomas Fieldhouse.
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