2-0 Day Begins with Five-Set Triumph Over Yellow Jackets

HARRISONBURG, Va. — Goucher came out on top in a thrilling five-set match against Waynesburg and later disposed of Mary Baldwin in three games today to finish in second place at the Eastern Mennonite Invitational.

First place went to Howard Payne, which handed head coach Michael Bossom's Gophers their only setback during the two-day tournament.

Goucher took the first two games in the first of today's two matches, but Waynesburg prevailed in the next two to set up a decisive fifth set. The two teams were never separated by more than two points until the Gophers went on a 6-0 run to open up a 12-8 lead. The spurt started with a kill by Corinne Kahler, who added a second one to put her team ahead 11-8.

An attack error by Waynesburg provided Goucher with a 14-11 advantage, but the Yellow Jackets (2-1) were able to fight off two match points before Addie Lanzarotta wrapped up the 25-18, 25-17, 20-25, 21-25, 15-13 victory for the Gophers with her ninth kill of the match.

Sarah Johnson was credited with 39 assists as she handled most of the setting for Goucher, while Megan Chalk contributed 14 kills and a dozen digs to the win.

Chalk also led the team in kills in the 25-12, 25-14, 25-17 triumph over Mary Baldwin in the final round. Her 11 kills against the Fighting Squirrels upped the senior outside hitter's total for the four matches to 48, which earned her a spot on the all-tournament team.

Lanzarotta ranks second on the team in kills through four matches with 27, but the senior middle hitter has committed only two hitting errors so far and owns a robust .410 attack percentage.