HAVERFORD, Pa. ­­– The Lebanon Valley College volleyball team picked up its first victory of the 2023 season on Saturday, defeating Haverford College 3–1 on the second day of the Haverford Invitational at Calvin Gooding '84 Arena. The Flying Dutchmen split their two matches during the day, as the team dropped its first match 3–1 to Stockton University. Senior outside hitter Taylor McInerney was also named to the All-Tournament Team for her performance over the weekend. 

Match 1 vs. Stockton University
Lebanon Valley (0-3) dropped the first match of the day to Stockton (2-2), falling 3–1 in four close sets. The Ospreys took the first two sets by scores of 25–21 and 25–17, but the Flying Dutchmen won the third set 25–21. Stockton then went out to close the match by winning the fourth set 25–21. 

The Dutchmen were down early in the first set, trailing 13–8. But the team continued to battle throughout the frame, narrowing its deficit to just one point. Down by four, LVC recorded three consecutive points to make it a 20–19 set. McInerney posted two straight kills, which was followed by an attack error and a block by first-year Teaguen Reynolds and McInerney. The Ospreys ultimately went on to close out the set. 

Lebanon Valley trailed early in the second set but went on a four-point run to make it 9–8. A pair of kills by senior outside hitter Kelli Heffer helped the team get within a point of Stockton. The squads went back-and-forth during the remainder of the set, but a late four-point run by the Ospreys helped give the team set win.

The Flying Dutchmen then won the third set by a score of 25–21. The program trailed 8–3 in third, but the squad chipped away at the deficit until it went ahead. LVC was down by a point when it went on a three-point run to take a 19–17 lead. The run was courtesy of a kill by sophomore middle hitter Margaret Cole and two kills by McInerney. Lebanon Valley went on another three-point run to close out the set, as a pair of attack errors and a kill by junior setter Robyn Stepler helped secure the set victory.

The fourth set of the match was a close battle until the end, as the squads were tied multiple times early on. The Ospreys went ahead 20–12 later in the set, but the Dutchmen didn't go down quietly. LVC went on a five-point run to pull the team within just three points. This run can be attributed to two service aces by sophomore Devyn Kelley and a kill by Heffer, as well as two attack errors. The team would narrow its deficit to just two, but Stockton ultimately held on to win the set and the match. 

Inside the Box Score:

• Lebanon Valley recorded 52 digs and six blocks defensively, registering more tallies in these categories than Stockton. 
• McInerney and Reynolds both posted three blocks. 
• McInerney led the Flying Dutchmen with 21 kills. 
• Kelley led the team with four aces. 
• Senior libero Kasey Thomas led LVC with 17 digs. 

Match 2 vs. Haverford College
Lebanon Valley (1-3) defeated Haverford (1-3) in its second match of the afternoon, picking up a commanding 3–1 victory. The Flying Dutchmen won the first two sets by scores of 25–18 and 25–14. The team dropped the third set 25–17 but secured its first victory of the campaign with a 25-21 victory in set four. 

The Dutchmen took control of the first set early, going on a six-point run to take a 10–5 lead over the Fords. McInerney posted three kills during this stretch and sophomore outside hitter Mattea Penner recorded an ace. Later in the set, LVC delivered a seven-point run to take a 19–9 advantage. Haverford attempted to get back into the set, but Lebanon Valley ultimately held on for the win.

The programs swapped the lead early in the second set, but the Flying Dutchmen then went on a seven-point run to take a 13–7 advantage. During this stretch, Reynolds and Stepler teamed up for two blocks on attack errors. Senior middle hitter Olivia Nace also provided the team with a service ace. Lebanon Valley closed out the second set with a three-point run, courtesy of kills by Stepler, McInerney and Reynolds. 

Lebanon Valley traded the advantage with Haverford at the beginning of the third set, until the Fords went on a six-point run to take a 16–10 lead. The Dutchmen battled back through the remainder of the set, including a stretch of three straight points on an ace by Kelley and kills by McInerney and Penner. The opposition would ultimately hold on to take the third set. 

LVC got the offense going at the start of the fourth set, jumping out to an early 8–3 lead thanks to a six-point run. McInerney registered a pair of kills during the stretch, while Penner had three consecutive aces. Haverford later got back into the set, tying things up at 18–18. The Dutchmen promptly responded with three straight points on a bad set and an ace and a kill by McInerney. Lebanon Valley maintained this lead for the rest of the set, holding on for the match victory. 

Inside the Box Score:

• Lebanon Valley recored 55 total kills during the match. 
• McInerney led Lebanon Valley with 33 kills. This her second-most kills with LVC, trailing only her 34-kill performance against Widener University Oct. 25, 2022. 
• Stepler led the Dutchmen with 43 assists. 
• Thomas registered a team-leading 25 digs.
• Penner posted the most aces for LVC, tallying four. 

 
Up Next
Lebanon Valley will return to action at 7 p.m. Sept. 6, as the team will host Dickinson College in its home opener at Sorrentino Gymnasium. The Flying Dutchmen are 24-7 in their all-time matchups against the Red Devils.

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