ANNVILLE, Pa. – Senior night festivities always make a particular game memorable for soon-to-be graduating student-athletes.  But no one could have foreseen the drama that would unfold at Sorrentino Gymnasium during Kayla Confer and Kacey Musselman's final regular-season home match as members of Lebanon Valley's women's volleyball team.  On Tuesday night, Oct. 28, the Flying Dutchmen turned a would-be upset into a heart-stopping 3-2 comeback victory over Commonwealth Conference opponent Widener. 

After dropping two-straight sets to the Pride to begin the match, the Dutchmen found themselves locked in a 21-21 stalemate late in the crucial third set.  LVC made a statement when sophomores Greta Weidemoyer, Morgan Webb, and Taylor Troutman helped their team reel off four consecutive points to end the visitors' chance of a sweep.

Things wouldn't get any easier from there because despite jumping out to 5-1 and 7-3 advantages in the fourth set, Widener again clawed their way back and eventually tied the score at 21-21 late in the game.  Troutman and Weidemoyer again came up big as they combined for two kills and a block down the stretch to tie the match up at two sets apiece.

The fifth set began as a nail-biter as Lebanon Valley clung to a 5-4 lead in the early going.  Then, thanks to kills from juniors Alli Quirk and Emily Sides, as well as Confer, the Dutchmen gave themselves some much-needed breathing room for the first time all night.  Following a Widener timeout, the Pride committed two attack errors and Sides, Weidemoyer, and Troutman teamed-up to bang home four clutch kills that proved enough to put away a Pride squad that proved game on this night.

In the end, LVC defeated the Pride by set scores of 23-25, 20-25, 25-21, 25-21, and 15-6.

Weidemoyer, Confer, and Quirk had big nights offensively.  Weidemoyer led the way with a match-best 15 kills while Confer and Quirk followed closely behind her with 14 and 13, respectively.  Sides and Troutman made big contributions as well with Sides recording nine kills while Troutman tallied eight of her own.

Junior libero Allie Garrett was top-notch defensively as she dug out a match-high 26 Widener attempts.  Sophomore Morgan Webb racked up 14 digs in what proved to be one of the best outings of her young career while Musselman and sophomore Rachel Moltz added 11 apiece.  Musselman also added a match-best 51 assists, a number to rank as one of the highest outputs of her collegiate career.  She also worked hard at the net as she along with Confer and Quirk tallied three assisted blocks each.

Oddly enough, it was a sophomore in Troutman who stole the show on senior night.  She entered the match late in the second set and provided an immeasurable spark for her squad.  Lebanon Valley head coach Wayne Perry was very impressed with her performance against Widener and credited her for helping stall the Pride's early surge and swing momentum in the Dutchmen's favor.

Prior to the match, Perry reminisced about the time spent with his pair of senior captains over the course of their LVC careers.  In a heartfelt moment, he thanked them for their contribution and expressed his well wishes for them moving forward.  Musselman ranks second on the program's all-time assists leaders list, as well as third and fifth on the school's lists of service aces leaders and digs leaders.  Confer's career kills total is good enough to rank her ninth all-time in program-history.

The thrilling come-from-behind victory improved Lebanon Valley to 24-5 on the year and 6-1 in Commonwealth play.  With the victory, the Dutchmen assured themselves a home playoff match in the semifinal round of the 2014 conference tournament.  LVC will host Messiah next Wednesday night in their postseason opener.  Before they take on the Falcons, however, the Dutchmen will close out the league portion of their schedule at Arcadia on Thursday night, Oct. 30.  First serve is set for 7 p.m.