SALISBURY, MD - The Swarthmore College volleyball team wrapped up opening weekend with a split on the final day of the Margie Knight Classic at Salisbury University. The Garnet opened the morning with a commanding 3-0 victory over Catholic University, before falling to the host Salisbury, 3-2, in the weekend finale.

Emily Sun and Melissa Eyer both garnered All-Tournament selections for the Garnet. Sun tallied 69 assists on the weekend, while Eyer led the defense with 53 digs. 

Angelina Heminway was outstanding in the opening match versus Catholic. The junior paced the Garnet with 11 kills for a .688 hitting percentage. Alexia Enache and Izzy Adam also recorded double-digit kills in a three-set win. 

Enache led the team with 15 kills in a tightly-contested, five-set loss against Salisbury. The Garnet forced a fifth set after falling behind 2-1, but despite holding a late lead were unable to close out a competitive final set. 

SWARTHMORE 3, CATHOLIC 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After surrendering the opening point, the Garnet took control of the opening set with a 9-0 run to take a commanding lead. Emily Sun helped spark the swing with a pair of service aces, while Heminway and Adam both added two kills. Swarthmore then cruised to victory with a 10-3 rally to put away the Cardinals, 25-11.

- Both teams traded points early in the second set until Swarthmore rattled off four-unanswered. Zion Vick strung together consecutive kills to put the Garnet ahead by four, 10-6. Later in the set, Catholic gained momentum as they shrunk its deficit to two points. The Garnet halted any Cardinal threat with five-unanswered points to spark a 9-2 swing, 22-13. Swarthmore went on to clinch the set with back-to-back kills from Adam. 

- Catholic took to a rare lead late in the third set, 12-11. Swarthmore answered back with seven-unanswered points to flip momentum in its favor with five different players combining for all seven kills. The Cardinals would claw back with a 9-4 run to pull within one point of the Garnet, 22-21. However, Swarthmore regrouped with a pair of points before clinching the match with an Adam kill. 

GARNET LEADERS
Kills: Heminway 11, Enache, Adam 10
Hitting Pct: Heminway .688
Aces: Sun, Adam, Eyer 2
Blocks: Heminway 3
Assists: Sun 28
Digs: Eyer 17, Sun 16
 

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SWARTHMORE 2, SALISBURY 3
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Garnet took an early lead with four-unanswered points in the first set, 8-4. Swarthmore maintained its lead until Salisbury pulled away with 11-straight points, 20-11. The Garnet fought back and came within three points until the Sea Gulls claimed the opening set on a service error, 25-21. 

- Swarthmore led early in the second set after Melissa Eyer had back-to-back aces to put the Garnet ahead by four points, 10-6. Salisbury battled to a tie until the Garnet took control with five-straight points, 19-14. Swarthmore was within a point of victory, but the Sea Gulls threatened with four-straight points to shrink their deficit to one. Swarthmore clinched victory on the next point with a Salisbury attack error, 25-23.

- Salisbury got off to a fast start in the third set and never looked back. The Sea Gulls raced out to an 11-4 lead until Enache ended Salisbury's 5-0 run with a much-needed kill. However, the Sea Gulls quickly regained control as they cruised to a 25-11 win. 

- Swarthmore opened with five-unanswered points in a must-win fourth set. The Sea Gulls battled back to a tie until Swarthmore created separation with four-straight points, 13-9. Later in the set, Salisbury pulled within one before the Garnet added breathing room with a 4-0 run. Swarthmore went on to claim the set following back-to-back kills from Adam and Madeline Mountcastle, 25-20.

- Salisbury took a 7-4 lead in the deciding fifth set until Swarthmore erased the Sea Gulls advantage with three-straight kills. Enache had two of the kills, while Hannah Humphreys added the third. Swarthmore eventually took the lead on an attack error before an Eyer ace put the Garnet ahead by two points, 11-9. Following a Salisbury timeout, the Sea Gulls completely flipped momentum as they ended the game on a 6-1 rally to clinch victory. 

GARNET LEADERS
Kills: Enache 15, Adam 10
Aces: Eyer 3
Blocks: Heminway 4
Assists: Sun 26
Digs: Eyer 23

UP NEXT
The Garnet (2-1) travel to No. 1 Juniata College for a tri-match with Ohio Northern University on Saturday, Sept 7. Juniata has captured back-to-back national championships and are coming off a 35-0 season in 2023.