Volleyball Handles Chargers for Third Win in Four Matches

TOWSON, Md. – When Goucher and Lancaster Bible faced off last season, the Gophers were defeated in a five-set battle on the road. Goucher avenged that defeat tonight, needing only four sets to dispatch the Chargers in a 25-22, 25-23, 24-26, 25-16 victory.

Megan Chalk (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) led the way with 13 kills, 17 digs and four aces for the Gophers (9-10) who matched last season's win total with 11 matches remaining, and have won three of their last four matches overall. Sarah Johnson (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) set a new season-high with 20 digs to go along with 27 assists.

After Goucher jumped out to a 12-7 lead in the opening set, Lancaster Bible (7-12) rallied to grab a 19-18 advantage. Three consecutive Charger errors sent the momentum back towards the Gophers, who closed out the set on a block from Addie Lanzarotta (Los Angeles, Calif./Culver City).

The Gophers started slowly in the following set, falling behind 16-8 after a stretch where the Chargers took 7 of 8 points. Lancaster Bible appeared to be holding on to its advantage, leading 23-17 before Goucher mounted a furious comeback. A Charger attack error made it 23-18, and with Lanzarotta serving the Gophers rattled off seven consecutive points, clinching the set on a kill from Hannah Kuehl (Plymouth, N.H./Plymouth Regional).

It appeared that Goucher would come away with the sweep after an ace from Chalk gave the team a 21-15 third-set edge. Lancaster Bible had a rally of its own, however, saving a set point and taking the set on a kill from Emily Olson.

Undeterred by having to continue play, Goucher scored the first eight points of the fourth set, capped off by a kill from Tori Rain (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial). The Chargers once again made things interesting, and they got within one point at 15-14 after a kill from Rachel Olson. Goucher, though, would drop only two additional points, as a block from Kuehl and Sarah Johnson sealed the win.

The Gophers improved to 2-2 in four-set matches with the victory. Six Goucher players managed double-digit digs, with Corinne Kahler (York, Pa./York Country Day) (a career-high 18), Rain (15), Meredith Johnson (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) (13) and Lanzarotta (13) joining Sarah Johnson and Chalk. Lanzarotta added eight kills, while Kuehl had seven kills and three blocks.

Goucher now turns its attention towards Landmark Conference play. The Gophers travel to Susquehanna this weekend for three matches against conference foes. Goucher plays Catholic (1 p.m.) and Susquehanna (6 p.m.) on Saturday before closing with a 10 a.m. matchup against Moravian on Sunday.