SWARTHMORE, Pa. – The Swarthmore College women's volleyball team opened the 2026 campaign with a 3-1 victory over visiting Eastern University on Tuesday night at Tarble Pavilion. The Garnet's effort gave
Cecily Scavicchio Tomeo a win in her Swarthmore head-coaching debut.
The Garnet pulled out back-to-back close victories in the first two sets before the Eagles stayed alive with a triumph in set three. Swarthmore rolled in the fourth set to put the match away.
Isabel Adam led the Garnet with 18 kills and also contributed 13 digs.
Ella Tsai impressed with 12 kills in her first collegiate match.
Maya Sheridan and
Lois Matsukawa tallied 19 and 17 assists respectively with Sheridan notching four service aces.
Melissa Eyer and
Nicole Kim produced 20 and 18 digs respectively to give Swarthmore three players with double-digit digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Eastern got out to a 4-1 lead in the opening frame before the Garnet went on a 13-4 run to lead 14-8. Tsai totaled three kills during the rally with Eyer, Matsukawa, Adam, and Sheridan all registering an ace. Swarthmore was in front 18-12 when the Eagles fought back with six of the next seven to get within one (19-18). However, the Garnet then pulled away with six of the last eight to take the set 25-20.
Maggie Rankin picked up a pair of aces during the final stretch.
- The two sides went back-and-forth early in the second. Swarthmore held a slim 10-9 advantage before creating separation with seven unanswered points, six of which came on Kim's serve. Eastern rallied to cut the deficit to one (19-18) but the Garnet were able to hold on to the lead, closing the stanza with a 6-3 stretch to win the set 25-21.
- The teams traded momentum again throughout the third set. Swarthmore was ahead 17-14 before the Eagles took control with a 9-1 surge. The Garnet were able to narrow the gap to two (24-22) before Eastern won the frame with a kill.
- The Garnet did not let the loss get them down as they jumped out to an 8-1 cushion to start the fourth. Sheridan posted two aces, while
Mailey Wang, Tsai,
Keira Miles, and Adam all recorded a kill. Swarthmore maintained firm control for the remainder of the set, leading by as many as 11 on the way to a 25-18 triumph.
GARNET LEADERS
Kills: Adam 18
Assists: Sheridan 19
Aces: Sheridan 4
Blocks: Rankin, Wang 2
Digs: Eyer 20
UP NEXT
The Garnet (1-0) travel to Batten University for the Marlin Invitational on Friday and Saturday. Swarthmore opens the tournament with matches versus University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Batten.
