WASHINGTON, D.C. – The University of Scranton volleyball team (7-7, 2-0 Landmark) notched a pair of victories over Catholic (12-5, 1-1 Landmark) and Marymount (6-10) on Saturday afternoon at Franny Murray Court in Washington, D.C.
Scranton notched a thrilling five-set victory over Catholic before closing things out with a 3-1 win against Marymount.
Scranton 3, Catholic 2 (26-28, 25-18, 15-25, 25-23, 16-14)
Things proved to be even for much of the first set and the set was deadlocked at 22 apiece before the Cardinals eventually tallied four of the final six points to capture the 28-26 victory.
The Cardinals led 10-7 in the early stages of the second set before junior Gianna Detorie (Rumford, R.I./Bishop Feehan) delivered a kill to ignite a seven-point run for the Royals and a 14-10 lead. Catholic was unable to get any closer than three the rest of the way and consecutive kills by junior Erin Keaveney (Collegeville, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) and sophomore Deanna Whelpley (Congers, N.Y./Immaculate Heart Academy) helped the Royals even the match with a 25-18 win.
In the third set, Catholic held a 12-9 edge and then took seven of the next eight points that stretched the lead to 19-10 en route to the 25-15 win.
Whelpley delivered a pair of service aces and Scranton grabbed the first six points of the fourth set and eventually held a 14-6 lead. However, the Cardinals were able to battle back to cut the lead to 22-20 and 24-23 before Keaveney slammed home a kill to force a decisive fifth set.
The two sided traded points for much of the fifth set and a kill by Keaveney evened things at 13 apiece before the Royals took three of the final four points to remain unbeaten in Landmark play with a 16-14 victory.
Keaveney led the Royals with a career-high 21 kills, while Whelpley and senior Stephanie Margolies (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) added 15 apiece. Freshman Cammi Quirk (Oakland, N.J./Ridgewood) tallied 30 assists and Detorie added 27 of her own in the Royals' victory.
Sophomore Maddie Forry (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) led the way defensively with 21 digs and Whelpley added 13 as the latter notched a second consecutive double-double.
Scranton 3, Marymount (Va.) 1 (17-25, 25-12, 25-23, 25-23)
Marymount took control of the first set with four straight points that stretched the lead to 15-8 and despite a late comeback effort from Scranton that cut the lead to 23-17, the Saints held on for the 25-17 victory.
In the second set, head coach Jamie Spangler's team held a 14-10 lead and then used seven straight points including three kills from Keaveney to take a commanding 21-10 lead. Following consecutive points by Marymount, the Royals notched four straight points and Whelpley sealed the 25-12 victory with a kill.
Things were deadlocked at nine apiece in the third set before a Detorie kill marked the beginning of seven out of eight points for the Royals and a 16-10 advantage. From there, Marymount rallied and got within one at 23-22, but a Margolies kill gave Scranton a one-set lead with the 25-23 win.
The Saints raced out to an early 12-6 lead in the fourth set before Scranton responded with six out of seven points that cut the lead to one at 16-15. Marymount then led 20-17, but the Royals then took five of the next six points to take a 22-21 lead and Whelpley finished the match with a kill in the 25-23 victory.
Whelpley led Scranton with 16 kills in the victory and Keaveney tallied 12, while Detorie recorded 19 assists and Quirk had 16.
Forry added three assists, three service aces and 13 digs.
Scranton returns home to host Susquehanna on Friday night at the John Long Center with first serve slated for 7 p.m.
--ROYALS--
