SALISBURY, Md. – The Lebanon Valley College women's volleyball team split a pair of matches on Saturday at the Margie Knight Classic, rallying for a five-set victory over Drew University before falling to host Salisbury University in four sets.
The Flying Dutchmen opened the day with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Drew by set scores of 21-25, 25-14, 25-17, 20-25, and 15-13. LVC began the match strong against the host Seagulls, winning the opening set 25-18. Salisbury responded by winning the next three sets 25-18, 25-17, 25-15 to win the final match of the weekend.
Match One vs. Drew
Drew grabbed the opening set, 25-21, despite the Dutchmen battling back from multiple deficits.
Riley Mack,
Hadley Sparks, and
Teaguen Reynolds helped erase a four-point gap midway through the set, but Drew closed on a 5-1 run to win the set. LVC answered emphatically in the second set. After building an 11-2 advantage behind strong serving and a pair of blocks from
Jillian Jefferys and
Libby Lindau, the Dutchmen never looked back. Mack and Lindau fueled the offense while Reynolds took over from the service line late, delivering two aces during a match-ending 11-1 run that secured a 25-14 victory and evened the match.
The Dutchmen carried that momentum into the third set. Trailing 2-0 early, LVC responded with six of the next seven points and gradually pulled away. Reynolds, Mack, and Lindau provided key kills, while
Casey Levan sparked a decisive late stretch with two service aces. Lebanon Valley closed the set on a 6-2 run to earn a 25-17 win and move within one set of the match. The Rangers refused to go away in a back-and-forth fourth set. Drew used a late surge to turn a 19-19 tie into a 25-20 victory, scoring five of the final six points to force a decisive fifth set despite late kills from Sparks and Reynolds.
The winner-take-all fifth set delivered all the drama. Drew jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but the Dutchmen quickly responded with four straight points behind strong play from Lindau and Jefferys. The teams traded points throughout the set until Lebanon Valley seized control behind kills from Mack, Reynolds, and Sparks. Leading 14-13, Sparks delivered one final kill to cap the comeback and send the Dutchmen to a thrilling 15-13 victory.
Inside the Box
- Mack led all players with 17 kills, adding eight digs.
- Lindau posted 11 kills while hitting .250 and was a force at the net with seven total blocks (one solo, six assists).
- Reynolds sparked LVC from the service line with six aces, while also contributing seven kills and three block assists.
- Sparks recorded 10 kills, three aces, and nine digs, providing key points in both the attack and serve game.
- Jasmine Sullivan orchestrated the offense with 27 assists, while adding 11 digs for a double-double.
- Sofia Rios delivered 18 assists and chipped in three kills.
- Molly Thomas anchored the back row with a match-high 16 digs and added four assists.
- Jefferys contributed five kills and matched Lindau for the team lead with seven block assists, helping LVC total 10 team blocks.
Match Two vs. Salisbury
The Dutchmen battled Salisbury point-for-point through the opening stages of the match; Lebanon Valley found its rhythm in the middle of the set. A 7-0 run behind the play of Sparks and Jefferys gave LVC a big 15-9 lead. Salisbury cut the deficit down to four points before the Dutchmen used an 8-2 run to get to set point. Lindau and Sparks ignited the offense during the final run of the set.
The hosts jumped out to an early lead in the second set, winning seven of the first 11 points. LVC battled back and cut the advantage to 11-10 following a 3-0 run that ended with a Sullivan ace. Salisbury countered with a 9-3 run to get to 20. The Dutchmen fought valiantly, but the Seagulls were able to take the set 25-18 and even the match.
Sparks and Lindau ignited the offense to an 8-2 lead to begin the third set with five points. LVC grew the advantage to 12-4 following another ace by Sullivan. Salisbury responded with a 16-2 run that gave them a 20-14 advantage. They rode the momentum to close out the set and take the 2-1 lead.
The Seagulls stayed hot to begin the fourth set, winning 10 of the first 12 points. The Dutchmen answered with a big 7-3 run to cut the deficit to four.
Brooke Olejniczak fueled a 3-0 run with a point and an ace to make it 15-12. Salisbury countered with a decisive 10-3 rally to close out the match.
Inside the Box
- Sparks led the offense with 11 kills, added 13 digs, and chipped in two service aces.
- Lindau matched the team lead with 11 kills while hitting .200 and adding two block assists.
- Olejniczak recorded 10 kills, 14 digs, and two service aces.
- Sullivan directed the offense with 18 assists while contributing two aces and six digs.
- Rios provided a spark off the bench with 15 assists, four kills, and an outstanding .800 hitting percentage.
- Baldrige contributed across the board with three kills, two aces, four block assists, and two digs.
- Jefferys added five kills and three block assists, helping the Dutchmen at the net.
- Thomas anchored the back row with 10 digs, while also adding two assists and a service ace.
Up Next
LVC will return to action on Tuesday, September 8, as they make the short trip to Elizabethtown to take on Elizabethtown College in a local rivalry match. The first serve inside Thompson Gymnasium is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Stay Connected
Be sure to follow @lvcathletics on
Instagram,
X, and
Facebook for the most in-depth coverage of LVC Athletics.
