SCRANTON, Pa. – The University of Scranton volleyball team (13-9, 8-1 Landmark) battled hard in all seven sets, but dropped a pair of matches to No. 1 Juniata (22-0, 7-0 Landmark) and Stevens (15-7, 5-0) on Saturday at the John Long Center in Scranton.
Juniata 3, Scranton 0 (16-25, 14-25, 18-25)
The Eagles raced out to a 12-3 lead in the first set and despite a late comeback effort by the Royals that saw them cut the lead to 20-11 following a kill by sophomore Deanna Whelpley (Congers, N.Y./Immaculate Heart Academy), the visitors were able to hold on for the 25-16 victory.
In the second set, the two teams traded points through the early stages and things were tied at 10 apiece before Juniata took seven of the next nine points for a 17-12 lead. After a kill by freshman Cammi Quirk (Oakland, N.J./Ridgewood) that cut the deficit to four at 17-13, the Eagles tallied eight of the final nine points in the 25-14 win.
Scranton held an early 8-7 lead in the third set and things were later tied at 15 apiece before, but Juniata then recorded a seven-point run for a 22-15 advantage. Junior Erin Keaveney (Collegeville, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) tallied a pair of kills down the stretch for Scranton before the Eagles closed out the match.
Keaveney and Whelpley paced the Royals with seven kills apiece and junior Gianna Detorie (Rumford, R.I./Bishop Feehan) added 11 assists and four digs.
Sophomore Maddie Forry (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) led head coach Jamie Spangler's team with 19 digs.
Stevens 3, Scranton 1 (18-25, 23-25, 25-17, 16-25)
The Royals recorded the first four points of the match and eventually led 11-8 after a Keaveney kill before Stevens responded with six straight points to take the lead. From there, Scranton cut the lead to one at 14-13 before a seven-point run by the Ducks made it 21-13 en route to the 25-18 victory.
In the second set, Stevens grabbed a 13-7 lead and despite a valiant comeback effort by the Royals that resulted in a 23-all deadlock after consecutive kills by Whelpley and senior Stephanie Margolies (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) and a Ducks' set error, the visitors closed out the 25-23 win.
Similarly to the second set, Scranton held a 13-7 advantage in the third set and Stevens was unable to get any closer than five the rest of the way in the Royals' 25-17 victory that Whelpley sealed with a kill.
Stevens opened up a 13-4 lead in the fourth and final set which proved costly as the Royals fought back, but could not get any closer than six at 17-11 and 18-12. The Ducks then took four of the final five points in the 25-16 victory.
Margolies led a balanced attack for the Royals with 12 kills, while Keaveney and Whelpley had 11 apiece. Detorie (19 assists) and Quirk (16 assists) helped set up the attack in the contest.
Forry added 27 digs.
The Royals are back in action on Wednesday at Misericordia with action set to begin at 7 p.m.
--ROYALS--
