Gophers Battle With Shorewomen, Fall 3-1

TOWSON, Md. - Visiting Washington (Md.) College rallied from a 21-16 deficit in the fourth set en route to a 3-1 non-conference women's volleyball victory over Goucher College at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center Wednesday night.  Set scores were 25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-23.

• Washington College (4-4) jumped out to an 8-4 lead in the first set.
• The Gophers (3-7) cut the lead to one twice before a 5-0 Shorewomen run put the guests up 16-9.
• Trailing 24-13, Goucher reeled off five straight points, with Eden Adcock (Stratford, N.J./Sterling Regional) recording a kill and the Gophers taking advantage of three Washington attack errors.
• A Lindsay Saddic kill closed out the set.

• Goucher used a 5-0 run to take a 10-7 lead following a block by Elizabeth Bobo (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley)
• The Shorewomen cut the lead to one twice, but three straight points that included a kill by Grace Howl (Harwood, Md./Southern) made it 17-13 in favor of the Gophers.
• Washington tied the set three times, the latest at 23-23.
• Back-to-back kills by Rachel Chapman (Rochester, N.Y./Churchville Chili) and Bobo closed out the set and tied the match.

• The Shorewomen got out to a quick start, building an 8-1 lead.
• Goucher chipped away and a Kaya Melchor (Mililani, Hawaii/Kamehameha Schools Kapalama) kill followed by an attack error allowed the Gophers to pull within one, 16-15.
• Washington College responded with four straight points to go up 20-16.
• The Gophers made one final push and a Nicole Kovach (New York, N.Y./Quest to Learn) kill followed by a Necole Stravino (Quezon City, Philippines/Nadua (Va.) service ace got the hosts within a pair, 23-21.
• A Melchor kill at 24-21 staved off set point but a Shorewomen kill closed out the set. 

• Goucher jumped out to a 7-2 lead after a Chapman block and a Shorewomen attack error.
• The Gophers maintained at least a two-point lead much of the set and extended the lead to 21-16 following an attack error.
• Washington reeled off seven straight points to take a 23-21 lead.
• A Howl kill ended the Shorewomen run and cut the lead to one.
• Down 24-21, a kill by Adcock held off match point but a Riley McHugh kill ended the match.

• Washington College hit .137 for the match while the Gophers hit .079.
• Chapman led Goucher with 10 kills.
• Melchor narrowly missed a double-double with nine kills and 14 digs.
• Adcock added eight kills and a pair of blocks.
• Kovach amassed a team-best 17 digs, while Neli La Court Ruiz (York, Pa./Northeastern) added 16.
• Kovach also handed out 29 assists for her fifth double-double of the season.

Elizabeth Bobo with the kill to finish off the second set victory! pic.twitter.com/cRDKnTFq5b

— Goucher Gophers (@GoucherSports) September 23, 2021

• Goucher returns to action on Saturday, September 25, traveling to Cairn for an 11 am match.
• The Gophers return home next Wednesday, September 29, hosting Gallaudet at 7 pm at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.