PHILADELPHIA, Pa.,- Playing its third match of the weekend after sweeping a tri-match at Goldey-Beacom on Saturday, the West Chester women's volleyball team (16-7) returned to action inside the Gallagher Athletic Complex at Jefferson (15-6) on Sunday afternoon. West Chester captured the first set and showed its toughness in a big 31-29, fourth set victory but it was not enough as Jefferson escaped with a 3-2 victory over the visiting Golden Rams.
The first set was tight throughout as West Chester and Jefferson traded short runs although it was West Chester who held the lead for much of the set, eventually earning a 25-20 first set victory to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
In the second set, Jefferson took its turn to lead much of the set and eventually earn a narrow victory, capturing the set by a 25-17 final to even the match at 1-1. Jefferson continued its mid-match momentum, taking the third set by a 25-15 final to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
With its back squarely against the wall late in the fourth set, West Chester went to work, battling with Jefferson down the stretch of the set before eventually capturing it by a final of 31-29, thanks in large part to a late kill by
Elise Smith (New Market, Md./Oakdale), which gave WCU a 30-29 lead it would not relinquish.
After forcing a decisive fifth set, marking the second time in the last two weeks in which West Chester had a match go the full-five sets, West Chester jumped out to an early 6-4 lead after a kill by
Brynn Dreisbach (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) and an ace by
Sydney Heffner (Bath, Pa./Northampton). Despite trailing early, Jefferson rallied back to take the set by a 15-12 final and escape with a 3-2 victory over the Golden Rams.
Dreisbach had a big day for West Chester, finishing with 20 kills while
Hailey Lewis (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) added 11 of her own to go along with a team-best six blocks.
Jamie Byrne (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) logged a team-high 31 assists to go along with 10 digs while
Megan St. Jean (Eaton, Co./Eaton) finished second on the team in assists with 15 to go along with four digs.
Sydney Heffner (Bath, Pa./Northampton) led the way in digs with 15 while also compiling a team-best three aces in the setback.
Up Next:
West Chester returns to action on Friday night at Lock Haven before visiting with Bloomsburg on Saturday afternoon to begin the stretch run of the 2022 season.
