SWARTHMORE, PA. - The Swarthmore College volleyball team split its final two matches of the Phoenix Invitational on Saturday. The Garnet dropped its opening match to Wesleyan University, 3-1, before bouncing back with a 3-0 win over Susquehanna University. Wesleyan was receiving votes in the latest AVCA national rankings. 

The Garnet recognized its five seniors - Jalyn Miller, Madeline Mountcastle, Ellie Streeper, Zindzhi Montgomery and Angelina Heminway - before the start of its opening match. 

SWARTHMORE 1, WESLEYAN 3
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams traded leads back and forth in a fun and entertaining opening set. Wesleyan began to distance themselves with a two-point advantage until the Garnet countered with three-straight points to take a 15-14 lead. Alexia Enache registered a pair of kills during the run to fuel Swarthmore's rally. The Garnet went on to clinch the set with consecutive kills from Mountcastle and Enache, 25-21. The set saw 16 ties and seven lead changes with Enache and Isabel Adam pacing the Garnet with six kills. 

- The Cardinals got off to a quick start with a 13-7 opening to the second set. Wesleyan rattled off four-unanswered points to prompt an early Garnet timeout. The visitors maintained its pressure, expanding their lead to 18-9. The Garnet were unable to mount much resistance, falling to the Cardinals 25-14 to even the sets. 

 - Wesleyan kept rolling into the third set with a 7-1 advantage to start the stanza. Despite some resistance from the Garnet, the Cardinals led comfortably the entire way, culminating in a 25-16 decision. 

- Early in the fourth set, Swarthmore got back on track with three-straight points to take the lead. Enache kickstarted the stretch with a much-needed kill, which was followed by back-to-back Emily Sun aces to put the Garnet in front. Wesleyan pulled away until the Garnet narrowed the gap with five-straight points to shrink its deficit to one, 22-21. Adam put pressure on the Cardinals with excellent serving, including an ace, as Swarthmore battled back from a once six-point deficit. 

GARNET LEADERS
Kills: Adam 15
Aces: Sun, Adam 2
Blocks: Bardauskaite 2
Assists: Mountcastle 20
Digs: Eyer 14

SWARTHMORE 3, SUSQUEHANNA 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Garnet attack was clicking early as they jumped out to a 15-8 lead. Keira Miles led the way with four kills during the stretch, while Swarthmore forced a River Hawks' timeout with a 5-1 run. Miller helped put the game out of reach with a pair of late kills, while Melissa Eyer added a rare kill before Montgomery clinched the set with an ace, 25-12. 

- After trailing 13-5 in the second set, the Garnet made a remarkable comeback with an 11-3 run to tie the game at 16-16. Montgomery then put Swarthmore ahead for good with a kill. Aiste Bardauskaite tallied three late kills to help put away the River Hawks, while Miller closed things out with a kill, 25-21.

- The Garnet fell behind again to start the third set, but rebounded with a 7-2 run, which was capped off by a go-ahead kill by Montgomery. Late in the set, Zion Vick helped fend off Susquehanna with a block kill to provide the team with a three-point cushion, 20-17. Vick and Miles later coupled for consecutive kills to clinch the match, 25-19.


GARNET LEADERS
Kills: Adam 11, Miles 10
Aces: Streeper 2
Blocks: Miles 4
Assists: Sheridan 18
Digs: Eyer 28

UP NEXT
The Garnet (6-2) put the finishing touches on a nine-game homestand against William Paterson on Tuesday.