ANNVILLE, Pa. ­­– The Lebanon Valley College volleyball team received key contributions from several players during its 3-1 victory over DeSales University on Wednesday at Sorrentino Gymnasium. 

Lebanon Valley (11-5, 3-0 MAC Freedom) defeated DeSales (7-9, 2-1 MAC Freedom) in four sets, winning its second straight match. The Bulldogs took the first set 25-20, but the Flying Dutchmen then won the next three by scores of 25-18, 25-23 and 25-15 to secure the victory.

The programs went back-and-forth during a close first set, swapping the lead three times early. The squads traded points until the score was 10-7 in favor of DeSales, when the Flying Dutchmen narrowed their deficit to one on an attack error and a kill by sophomore Margaret Cole. The Bulldogs then went on a run to advance the score to 18-13, but the Dutchmen delivered four consecutive points to make it an 18-17 set. LVC trimmed DeSales' advantage to a point on a kill by junior Robyn Stepler, two attack errors and an ace by first-year Teaguen Reynolds. The Bulldogs followed this with a 7-3 run to take the first set 25-20. 

The programs battled early in the second set, exchanging points until DeSales was up 10-8. Lebanon Valley responded with eight consecutive points, taking a 16-10 lead. The Flying Dutchmen went ahead on a run that included a kill by Reynolds, two kills by sophomore Mattea Penner and a kill by Stepler. The Bulldogs later trimmed LVC's advantage to 21-18 in the second set. The Dutchmen responded with four straight points to secure the 25-18 victory in set two and tie the match at 1-1. The program closed out the set with two kills by senior Taylor McInerney, an ace by senior Kasey Thomas and a ball handling error. 

The third set was also close from the start, as DeSales took a 7-5 lead early. Lebanon Valley then went on a dominant 7-1 run, taking a 12-8 lead. This strong offensive stretch included two aces by Stepler, two kills by Cole and kills by Penner and first-year Libby Lindau. The squads continued to battle as the set progressed, as the Bulldogs later evened the score at 20-20. The squads followed this by delivering two points each, making it 22-all before LVC closed out the set on a 3-1 run. The Flying Dutchmen secured the 25-23 set win and took a 2-1 lead in the match on a kill by Lindau and two kills by McInerney.  

Lebanon Valley got its offense rolling early in the fourth set, jumping out to a 9-5 advantage over DeSales. The teams were tied up at 5-all, before the Dutchmen took the lead on a kill by McInerney, an attack error, a kill by Stepler and an ace by sophomore Devyn Kelley. The Bulldogs kept the set close, as the score later advanced to 17-14 in favor of the Dutchmen. From this point on LVC went on a dominant 8-1 run to take the set 25-15 and win the match 3-1. Lebanon Valley's closed out the final set on a stretch that included two aces by Reynolds and two kills by Penner.  

Inside the Box Score:

• McInerney led Lebanon Valley with 21 kills during the match.
• Stepler registered the most assists for the Flying Dutchmen, recording 32.
• The Dutchmen posted nine aces while the Bulldogs had six. 
• Reynolds led the program with four aces and three blocks.
• Thomas tallied the most digs for the Dutchmen, logging 13.
• Junior Abigail Souder and Kelley both had 11 digs in the match. 

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will return to action at 11 a.m. Saturday, as the program will travel to take on Stevenson University at Owings Mills Gymnasium in Owings Mills, Md. Later that day at 1 p.m., the Flying Dutchmen will take on Stockton University. 

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