Brown Comes Up Big In Fifth To Propel Goucher Volleyball To Five-Set Thrilling Victory Against Washington

CHESTERTOWN, Md. – Bianca Brown (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick Township) registered four kills and two blocks in the fifth set including two kills and a block to help Goucher College post four of the final five points to secure a five-set victory against Washington College (Md.) in non-conference women's volleyball action on Wednesday.

After the Shorewomen tied the fifth set at 11, Brown and Kaya Melchor (Mililani, Hawaii/Kamehameha Schools Kapalama) were credited with blocks to give the Gophers the lead they would not relinquish. Melchor then served the next two points with Brown finishing off a kill from Vendela Lundgren (Columbia, Md./Howard) on both points for a 14-11 lead. Washington won the next point to stave off one match point, but a service error gave the Gophers a 15-12 fifth set to win the match and avoid a collapse after holding a two-set advantage to start the evening.

Goucher won the first two sets 28-26 and 25-23 before the Shorewomen took the next two sets at 25-21 and 25-19 to force a fifth set.

Brown finished the match with a season-high 12 kills and reached double figures for the second time this season and fifth time in her career. Melchor posted 12 digs and seven kills while Lundgren added a career-high 20 assists and five kills. It was Melchor's second game this season with 10+ digs and fifth of her career while Lundgren reached double figures in assist for the third time in her freshman campaign.

Tes DeJaeger (Norwalk, Conn./Brien McMahon) notched her third double-double of the season and for the third time in four matches after registering 21 assists and 21 digs. Cat Hartley (Colorado Springs, Colo./Cheyenne Mountain) recorded 26 digs and Virginia Estes (Homewood, Ala./Homewood) added 13 digs. Rachel Chapman (Rochester, N.Y./Churchville Chili) registered a team-high 15 kills in the winning effort.

The first set went to "overtime" so to speak with it coming down to serving. After a Washington service error to give the Baltimore program a 27-26 lead, Chapman registered her first collegiate ace to give the Gophers a 28-26 win in the opening set.

Chapman had a hand in helping Goucher win the second set. Brown and Chapman recorded back-to-back kills for a 23-21 lead. After the Shorewomen earned a point, Chapman notched another kill for a 24-22 lead. Washington earned another point, but then an attack error gave the Gophers a 25-23 win and two-set lead.

In the third set, the Shorewomen scored four-straight points to take an 18-14 lead while Goucher cut the margin to two points twice before Washington prevailed 25-21 to send the match to a fourth set.

The Shorewomen closed the fourth set on a 7-2 run to win the fourth set 25-19 and force a fifth and final set.

A fast 4-0 start by Goucher and a 7-3 lead ended when Washington went on an 8-4 run to tie the match at 11. Brown then recorded two kills and a block to propel the Gophers to the win and end a five-game losing streak.

Goucher returns to action on Saturday at Ursinus. Match time is 10 a.m.