Spartans Sneak Past Gophers in Five Sets
TOWSON, Md. — York (Pa.) overcame a 2-1 set deficit, rallying to earn a five-set victory in non-conference action today.
Rain, Johnson Each Contribute 20+ Assists
TOWSON, Md. — York (Pa.) overcame a 2-1 set deficit, rallying to earn a five-set victory in non-conference action today.
After winning the first set 25-19, York (6-20) jumped out to a 13-7 lead in set two, but just eight points later the score was level at 15-15. The teams exchanged points, evening up at 19, 20 and 21 apiece before Goucher (7-18) took the lead for good when Megan Chalk (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) put away a pass from Sabina Smajlovic (Hartford, Conn./Miss Porter's School) to take a 22-21 lead. Hannah Kuehl (Plymouth, N.H./Plymouth Regional) wrapped up the set with a kill at 24-23 to even up the set score.
The Gophers never trailed in the third frame after racing out to 4-0 lead and taking the lead for good at 8-7. Six straight points from the host squad, including a pair of kills from Chalk and a block by Kuehl, extended a 14-11 lead into a nine point advantage. Smajlovic closed the set with a kill after the Spartans closed the lead back to three.
After another 25-19 set win for York, the match was sent to a decisive fifth set.
Goucher earned its only lead in the final set when Addie Lanzarotta (Los Angeles, Calif./Culver City) put away a kill to put the team up 2-1. York responded with seven straight before coasting to a 15-8 win, handing the Gophers their third loss in four five set matches so far this year.
The win keeps York unbeaten against Goucher since 2000.
Chalk led the way for the Gophers with 17 kills, extending her streak of matches with 14 or more kills to five straight, while posting her 24th positive hitting percentage in 25 matches this year. The junior also contributed a season-high 25 digs, just three short of her career high set in 2010.
Tori Rain (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) and Sarah Johnson (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) had 22 and 21 assists respectively, becoming the first pair of Goucher teammates with 20 assists each since Catie Ditmore and Claire Sauvage-Mar against Messiah in 2007.