TOWSON, Md. – The University of Scranton volleyball team (5-7, 1-0 Landmark) rallied from a first set defeat and then cruised to a 3-1 victory over the Goucher College Gophers (2-12, 0-1 Landmark) on Friday night at the Decker Sports & Recreation Center in Towson.

Scranton 3, Goucher 1 (24-26, 25-18, 25-16, 25-13)

The Royals held a 16-9 lead in the first set following four straight points and a service ace by junior Kaelie Chung (Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains Fanwood), but Goucher responded and battled back to take a 23-19 lead. From there, Scranton rallied and used consecutive service aces by freshman Lexie Brown to tie things at 24 apiece before the Gophers took the final two points to seal the first set win.

Scranton quickly bounced back and led 11-6 in the second set before taking five of the next eight points for a 16-9 advantage. Goucher was unable to get any closer than six the rest of the way and a kill by senior Stephanie Margolies (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) sealed the 25-18 victory for the Royals.

Head coach Jamie Spangler's team proved to be dominant for much of the third set and held an early 13-3 advantage before Goucher eventually fought their way back and cut the lead to six at 22-16. Junior Maddie Orth (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) delivered a pair of kills across the final three points in the Royals' 25-16 victory.

In the fourth set, the Royals used seven straight points capped by a kill from freshman Isabel Rios (Alexandria, Va,/Thomas Edison) to take an 11-3 lead. The visitors were able to control play through much of the set from there and led 17-9 before using consecutive kills by sophomore Deanna Whelpley (Congers, N.Y./Immaculate Heart Academy) to take a 22-9 lead en route to the 25-13 win.

Whelpley led the Royals with 15 kills and also added 12 digs, while Margolies added 11 kills of her own. Freshman Cammi Quirk (Oakland, N.J./Ridgewood) helped set up the attack with 24 assists and sophomore Maddie Forry (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) led the defense with 17 digs.

Kailee Turner paced Goucher with 10 digs in the setback.

The Royals are set to take on Catholic (12 p.m.) and Marymount (2 p.m.) in a pair of matches on Saturday afternoon at Catholic.

--ROYALS--