Gophers Swept by Gators in Season Opener

TOWSON, Md. - Visiting Notre Dame of Maryland University swept Goucher College in non-conference women's volleyball Thursday evening at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.  Set scores were 25-22, 26-24, 25-20.

• The Gators (1-0) jumped out to a 6-1 lead and led 16-8 following a 5-1 burst.
• Goucher (0-1) reeled off five straight points with Kerragyn Heacock (Marysville, Washington/Marysville Getchell) including two aces to pull within 16-13.
• Another 5-0 Gopher burst put the hosts in the lead following an NDM attack error.
• Goucher held a 22-21 lead following a kill by Kailee Turner (Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville) before the visitors scored the final four points to take the set.

• Goucher fell behind 5-0 in the second set before scoring the next four points.
• Down 14-11, the Gophers scored four straight to take a 15-14 lead on a block by Heacock and Elizabeth Bobo (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley).
• Goucher led 22-18 following a service ace by Riley Kocell (Waxhaw, N.C./Cuthbertson)
• Notre Dame forged a 23-23 tie before Goucher was serving for set point following a Gator attack error.
• The guests scored three straight points to nail down the set.

• The third set was tied nine times before four straight Gator points gave the guests a 13-9 lead.
• Notre Dame extended its lead to 19-12 before the Gophers used a 5-1 run to pull within 20-17 on a Turner kill.
• Goucher cut the lead to three three more times before the Gators scored the final two points at 23-20.

• Eden Adcock (Stratford, N.J./Sterling Regional) paced Goucher with 10 kills while Turner finished with nine on .400 hitting in her collegiate debut.
• Turner narrowly missed a triple-double as she finished with 14 assists and 10 digs.
• Nicole Kovach (New York, N.Y./Quest to Learn) had a team-best 20 digs, while first year Eniyah Rodriguez (Virginia Beach, Va./Landstown) notched 13.
• Kocell added 10 assists and eight digs.
• Heacock recorded four service aces on the evening.

• Goucher heads to Reading, Pa. for a tri-match on Saturday, taking on host Alvernia at 11 am and Gwynedd Mercy at 1 pm.
• The Gophers return home on Tuesday, September 13, hosting Cairn at 7 pm.