Gophers Sweep Salem to Earn Opening Day Split

HARRISONBURG, Va. – After dropping its season opener to Howard Payne, the Goucher volleyball team responded nicely with a 3-0 sweep of Salem to close out the opening day of the Eastern Mennonite Invitational.

The Gophers (1-1) came away with a 25-21, 25-23, 25-15 victory over the Spirits (0-2). Megan Chalk led the charge with 11 kills and nine digs. Hannah Kuehl added 10 kills, while Michelle Tweedie had eight  for Goucher. Tori Rain led the team with 14 digs. Kuehl had a team-high .562 attack percentage.

Chalk and Rain also paced the Gophers in their tight 19-25, 20-25, 21-25 setback to the Yellow Jackets (2-0). Chalk had 12 kills and eight digs, while Rain added 14 digs. Addie Lanzarotta had seven kills for Goucher, and Corinne Kahler chipped in six kills (with a team-leading .556 attack percentage) and eight digs.

The Gophers held a 17-15 edge in the opening set, but Howard Payne followed with an 8-0 run to take command. The second set was close throughout. The Yellow Jackets used a 5-0 run to take a 19-13 lead, but Goucher responded with four straight points of its own to get back within two. The Gophers could get no closer, however, and Howard Payne led comfortably for most of the final set.

"Overall, Tori and Megan both played very well for us today," head coach Michael Bossom said. "Hannah and Corinne made great contributions as well, and Addie and Michelle added some timely kills."

Goucher closes out play at the Invitational tomorrow afternoon with a Noon matchup against Waynesburg (2-0) followed immediately by a 2 p.m. tilt against Mary Baldwin (0-2). Live stats for the Mary Baldwin match will be available here.