MADISON, N.J. – The Lebanon Valley volleyball team clinched their spot in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom Championships with a 3-0 sweep at FDU-Florham on Tuesday evening in the Ferguson Recreation Center
 
LVC (14-10, 5-1 MAC Freedom) cruised to the three-set win by scores of 25-11, 25-17, and 25-11 while hitting .318. The Dutchmen got off to a quick start with the first three points of the game behind two kills by Taylor McInerney. The Devils responded with three points of their own and keep things close, taking a 10-9 lead. The Dutchmen responded with a big rally with Lyla Arfanella serving scoring 11 consecutive points to go up 20-10. FDU-Florham ended the run but then LVC closed the set with another strong rally with Kasey Thomas serving to take the first set.
 
After LVC scored the first point of the second set, the Devils scored four straight points to take a 4-1 lead. LVC countered with four points of their own to go up 5-4. Robyn Stepler had a pair of service aces and Thomas gave the Dutchmen a 10-5 lead with a kill. The Devils were able to cut the advantage to 11-9 before Mcinerney had three consecutive kills and the Dutchmen extended the lead to 16-9. LVC would go up 23-11 before the Devils six of the next seven points to make the set closer. Mattea Penner ended the set with a kill on the left side.
 
LVC opened the third set with six of the first eight points. The Devils cut the lead to 7-6 before the Dutchmen scored 10 consecutive points with Stepler serving to go up 17-6. FDU-Florham was able to cut it to 17-9 but that was as close as they would get as the Dutchmen finished off the match with eight of the final 10 points.
 
Inside the Box

• McInerney led the team with 16 kills and just two errors. The senior hit .609 and had one ace and four digs.
• Thomas had 11 digs, and two kills.
• Stepler had another big game with 22 assists, three aces, five digs, and three kills.
• Arfanella had eight digs and three aces.
• Sofia Okkronley recorded eight digs and nine assists.
• Penner finished with six kills and a solo block.

Up Next
The Dutchmen will play their final non-conference games on Saturday with a tri-match at Neumann University. LVC will face Gwynedd Mercy University at 12 p.m. before facing the host Knights at 2 p.m. Next week the Dutchmen will host Misericordia University on Senior Night in a battle for the second seed and home court advantage in the MAC Freedom Semifinals.

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