GALLOWAY, N.J. – The Swarthmore College volleyball team increased its win streak to five with a pair of victories on Saturday. The Garnet defeated SUNY New Paltz, 3-0, before pulling out a thrilling 3-2 triumph over host Stockton University.
Isabel Adam finished with 25 kills, 28 digs, and four service aces across the two matches.
Ella Tsai (17),
Keira Miles (13), and
Aiste Bardauskaite (12) also posted double-digit kills.
Maya Sheridan led the squad with 46 assists and eight aces while
Mailey Wang recorded a team-high eight blocks.
Melissa Eyer compiled 33 digs on the day.
SWARTHMORE 3, SUNY NEW PALTZ 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Hawks jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the opening set. However, Swarthmore responded with seven of the next nine to even it up at eight apiece. The Garnet later trailed 19-17 before they scored four in a row to take the advantage. Adam notched two aces and a kill during the stretch. New Paltz tied the score at 23 but a kill from Miles followed by an error gave Swarthmore the 25-23 decision.
- The Hawks tallied the first two points of the second set before the Garnet took over with a 9-1 run. New Paltz came within three at 13-10 before Swarthmore pulled away again with four unanswered points. The Garnet went on to take the set 25-16.
- Swarthmore carried the momentum into the third, getting out to a 7-1 cushion.
Kate Roberts and Sheridan both produced a pair of aces during the sequence. The Hawks came no closer than three for the rest of the set. The Garnet finished the stanza with a 5-1 run to clinch the match 25-18.
GARNET LEADERS
Kills: Adam 10
Assists: Sheridan 17
Aces: Sheridan 6
Blocks: Wang 3
Digs: Adam 13
SWARTHMORE 3, STOCKTON 2
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Swarthmore led 9-6 in the first set before the Ospreys strung together five points to go in front. However, the Garnet responded with a 12-1 rally to take a 21-12 lead. Wang contributed three blocks and Tsai registered a trio of kills. The run propelled Swarthmore to a 25-16 set win.
- Stockton took an early 8-3 advantage in the second set but the Garnet bounced back with an 8-1 stretch to go ahead 11-9. Adam posted two kills and an ace. The teams then went back and forth until it was even at 15. Swarthmore went in front with seven of the next 10. The Ospreys were able to cut the deficit to two (23-21) but back-to-back kills by Adam and
Maggie Rankin gave the Garnet a 25-21 victory.
- In the third set, the score was level at 12 when Stockton surged with nine of 11 to lead 21-14. A late 4-0 rally was not enough for Swarthmore to get back in it as the home team took the set 25-21.
- The teams battled again in the fourth set with neither squad leading by more than three. The Garnet had the lead late, 20-18, but the Ospreys rallied for five in a row and seven of the last eight to steal a 25-21 victory and take the match to a decisive set.
- Stockton scored the first two points of the final set but Swarthmore fought back with five straight and 11 of 12 to take a commanding 11-3 advantage. Wang led the charge with two kills and a block. The Garnet cruised the rest of the way and consecutive kills by Bardauskaite and Tsai put a bow on a 15-6 triumph.
GARNET LEADERS
Kills: Adam 15
Assists: Sheridan 29
Aces:
Nicole Kim, Eyer 3
Blocks: Wang 5
Digs: Eyer 21
UP NEXT
Swarthmore (14-3) returns to conference play on Wednesday at Bryn Mawr College.
