Box Score

CHESTER, Pa. – Sophomore Sarah Wallace recorded a double-double with 16 kills and 13 digs as the Swarthmore College volleyball team opened its season with a 3-1, nonconference win against Widener on Tuesday, Sept 1. The Garnet triumphed 25-16, 25-20, 21-25, 25-20 over the homestanding Pride.

Sophomore Olivia Leventhal tallied 12 kills for the Garnet and senior Sam DuBois totaled 34 assists on the night. Freshman Sarah Girard and sophomore Malia Scott finished in double figures for digs with 10 and 12, respectively, and Elise Cummings recorded five service aces in her collegiate debut.

In a back-and-forth first set, Swarthmore trailed 11-12 until three consecutive aces by Cummings put the visitors ahead. Two kills by Wallace and Widener's off-target hitting expanded the Garnet lead and a kill from Alice Liu closed out the frame.

Swarthmore never trailed in the second set, but fell behind in the third after Widener went on several runs to claim the momentum. Trailing 14-20, the Garnet managed to claim the next three points to come within three, but were unable to end the match with a sweep.

The team posted its best hitting percentage of the night in the fourth set with 17 kills and only three errors on 39 attempts for a .359 mark. Swarthmore answered a six-point Widener stretch in the middle of the set by taking six of the next eight points to knot the game at 13 apiece. The Pride would regain the lead but the Garnet maintained their composure and rattled off a five-point run to take control of the set. Kills from Wallace and Liu and a Wallace service ace closed out the match for Swarthmore.

The team will co-host the Swarthmore & Haverford Invitational on Sept. 5 and 6 as it plays some of the top competition in Division III. The Garnet are scheduled to face Cabrini and Carnegie Mellon on Sept. 5 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.