ITHACA, NY - In a full day of play, the Swarthmore Women's Volleyball team went 1-1 to close out the Bomber Invitational at Ithaca College, capturing a win against SUNY Geneseo by a set score of 3-2 before coming up short against #19 Gustavus Adolphus.
Facing off against Geneseo, the Garnet overcame an 0-2 deficit, rallying back thanks to junior
Kaylee Zhang's 22 kills and junior
Dani Pena's 31 assists.
In their match against Gustavus, despite trailing the Golden Gusties two sets to none, the Garnet came out on top in set three before ultimately falling in set four.
SWARTHMORE 3, SUNY GENESEO 2
HOW IT HAPPENED
- While Geneseo took an early 13-6 lead to kick off the match, the Garnet went on a 14-5 run, seizing the lead at 20-18. With neither team able to meaningfully pull away however, the set was undecided by the time both teams reached 25 points, necessitating extra points to be played. While Swarthmore kept pace through the first few serves, the Knights were able to pull away and ultimately claim the set 29-27.
- Set two saw continued offensive success from the Garnet, with Swarthmore jumping out to an early 9-5 lead. However, with Swarthmore unable to quell Geneseo's attack, the Knights went on to tie the game at 11-all. While both squads traded points for the remainder of the set, it was Geneseo who was able to pull away, securing the period 25-19.
- Down but not out, the Garnet rallied back in set number three. A close contest that saw three early lead changes, Swarthmore was able to create separation, going on a 6-0 run to take an 18-15 advantage. While Geneseo's offense rallied, the deficit proved too much and the Garnet took the period 25-22, closing the Knights' set lead to 2-1.
- Set number four saw much of the same as the previous one, as early on neither team was able to take a substantial lead, trading points until finding themselves tied at 17-17. Taking advantage of an attack error by Geneseo, the Garnet went on a 6-1 run to seize a 23-18 lead, before closing out the set 25-20 and tying up the match at two sets a piece.
- Looking to close out the fifth set early on, Swarthmore went on a 8-0 run to take a dominant 9-2 lead, before ultimately taking the set 15-9 and the match 3-2.
GARNET LEADERS
- Kills: Zhang (22), Razdan (13), Pena (10)
- Assists: Pena (31), Mountcastle (18)
- Blocks: Perry (4), Razdan (2)
- Aces: Perry (2), Pena (1), Razdan (1)
- Digs: Streeper (27), Zhang (18), Mountcastle (10)
SWARTHMORE 1, #19 GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS 3
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Taking on the #19 team in the country, the Garnet had its work cut out for it against Gustavus. In the first set, despite Swarthmore taking an early 5-1 lead, the Gusties roared right back, tying the game at 7 all. While another Swarthmore run pushed its lead back to 3 at 11-8, Gustavus caught back up, evening the set at 17 all before taking on 20-17 lead. While a 6-0 run from the Garnet gave it some breathing room back and two consecutive set points, Swarthmore was unable to capitalize and Gustavus went on to claim the period 26-24.
- Kicking off the second set, both teams traded points until a 6-0 Swarthmore run pushed its lead to five at 15-10, only for a 5-0 Gustavus run to tie the period back up again at 17-all. While the squads would close out the set continuing to trade points, it was Gustavus that seized on a slim advantage, slipping away with a set win 25-22.
- No stranger to reverse sweeps having executed one earlier the same day, Swarthmore was undeterred. With neither team able to gain significant ground throughout the period, the set stood deadlocked 22-22. While Gustavus claimed the next point to go up 23-22, a 3-0 run by the Garnet locked down the set, with Swarthmore taking the victory 25-23.
- While some early offensive success from the Garnet saw it with a 3-1 lead, Gustavus' attack proved unstoppable, ultimately claiming the set 25-12 and the match 3 sets to 1.
GARNET LEADERS
- Kills: Perry (14), Razdan (12), Zhang (11)
- Assists: Mountcastle (31)
- Blocks: Perry (1), Razdan (1)
- Aces: Razdan (4), Zhang (1)
- Digs: Streeper (16), Zhang (11)
UP NEXT
Swarthmore (1-2) will play its home opener, hosting Eastern University on Wednesday, Sept. 7th at 6:00 p.m.
