Gophers Hold Off Gwynedd Mercy for Five-Set Win

TOWSON, Md. - The Goucher College women's volleyball team held off Gwynedd Mercy University for a 3-2 non-conference victory Friday evening at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.  Set scores were 25-23, 25-23, 19-25, 28-30, 15-11.

• Goucher (5-11) jumped out to a 6-0 lead including a pair of Nicole Kovach (New York, N.Y. / Quest to Learn) service aces.
• Trailing 13-6, Gwynedd Mercy (6-12) used a 7-2 run to pull within two, 15-13.
• The Griffins cut the lead to one twice, including 24-23, but a Gwynedd attack error closed out the set.

• The second set saw 12 ties and seven lead changes.
• Down 17-16, the Gophers rattled off four straight points and took a 20-17 lead on a Jordan Rowe (Raleigh, N.C. / Alex Friendship) service ace.
• The Griffins countered with three straight points to tie the set at 20.
• Three straight Goucher points capped by a block by Kovach and Elizabeth Bobo (Milford, Pa. / Delaware Valley) put the hosts up 23-20.
• After the visitors cut the lead to 24-23, a Griffin attack error closed out the set.

• Gwynedd Mercy held a 15-8 lead following a 6-0 run.
• Goucher chipped away and pulled within three, 20-17, following a Rachel Chapman (Rochester, N.Y. / Churchville Chili) kill.
• The two teams traded two-point runs before the Griffins scored the final three points of the set to stay alive.

• Goucher led 23-18 before Gwynedd scored five straight points to tie the set 23-23.
• The guests held off two Goucher match points before taking a 26-25 lead to serve for the set and force a fifth set.
• Melchor kills at 26-25 and 27-26 held off the Griffins and Goucher took a 28-27 lead on a Chapman kill.
• Gwynedd Mercy scored the final three points of the set and closed it out with a service ace to force the deciding set.

• The final set saw eight ties, with Gwynedd Mercy tying the frame 10-10 on a kill.
• Goucher scored four straight points, including kills by Chapman and Melchor, to build a 14-10 lead.
• After the Griffins held off match point, Melchor's final kill of the evening closed it out as Goucher held on for the win.

• Melchor registered a double-double with 18 kills and 26 digs, hitting .259 on the night.
• Chapman totaled 16 kills and six digs, while Bobo hit .229 and recorded 12 kills and six digs.
• Neli La Court Ruiz (York, Pa. / Northeastern) racked up 29 digs.
• Necole Stravino (Quezon City, Philippines / Nadua (Va,)) finished with 20 digs, while Kovach had 47 assists to go along with her 16 digs.
• Eden Adcock (Stratford, N.J. / Sterling Regional) chipped in with seven kills.
• Goucher hit .078 on the night, with the Griffins hitting .095.
• The Gophers, who had a season-high 58 kills, improved to 3-1 in five-set matches this season.

• Goucher returns to action Saturday when it hosts Bridgewater (Va.) in a noon contest at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.
• Prior to the match, Senior Day ceremonies will honor Ruiz, Melchor, Alex Coffin (Plymouth, Mass. / Plymouth North) and Grace Howl (Harwood, Md. / Southern).