Loss to Saints Costs Gophers One Spot in Standings

Rain Surpasses 50 Assists in Five-Set Match vs. Marymount

TOWSON, Md. — Goucher went into its final match this afternoon needing a win over Marymount to finish in third place in its own five-team tournament. The Gophers, however, went down in five sets and wound up in fourth behind the Saints in the final standings at the Goucher Invitational.

Set scores were 25-23, 16-25, 18-25, 25-17, 15-13.

In the loss, sophomore middle hitter Trish Kallis (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park), who represented Goucher on the all-tournament team, tied the school record of 12 blocks in a five-set match that she established earlier this season against Meredith. Including her contribution, the Gophers (7-15) finished with a team total of 18 blocks, which is a new school record for a five-set match.

Against the Saints (7-14), sophomore setter Tori Rain (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) recorded 51 assists, the most by a Goucher player since Shannon Towner had 54 assists in a match against Eastern Mennonite back in 1998, and sophomore outside hitter Megan Chalk (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) compiled a career-high 20 kills.

In their other match today, the Gophers bowed to Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-21). Chalk had 11 kills against the Devils (21-5).

Goucher began the tournament on Friday with a 3-1 come-from-behind triumph over Lancaster Bible and a 3-1 loss to Stevenson, which won all four of its matches to finish as champion.

In the 20-25, 25-13, 25-23, 25-21 victory over the Chargers (11-8), Chalk ended up in double figures in kills (16) and digs (17).

The Gophers dropped the first two sets against the Mustangs (19-2), but sent the match to a fourth set. In the 25-17, 25-20, 21-25, 25-17 setback, Chalk and Kallis combined for 28 kills and freshman outside hitter Kristen Courage (Port Washington, N.Y./Paul D. Schreiber) was the leader in digs with 30.