LANCASTER, Pa.- Eastern University Volleyball powered through another two matches to win the F & M Fall Scramble. The No. 19 Eagles downed Susquehanna in three efficient sets in the 10 a.m. match, and then proceeded to sweep through Lebanon Valley in the noon tilt. 

Lauren Sproles led the way with eleven kills in the first match. The Eagles hit over .300 as a team in the first two sets, and they limited the Crusaders to only 22 points over the first two sets. Susquehanna reached that total in the third set, but the Eagles were able to side out their way to the three-set win. Kearby Benak and Katrina Pisch added ten kills apiece in the win.

The Eagles had only a few minutes to rest before taking on Lebanon Valley College. Eastern jumped to a 25-8 win in the opening set and never looked back in their win over the 2011 Commonwealth Conference Champions. Sproles again led the way with eleven kills and Benak added ten.

Senior Libero Kelly Groff recorded 80 digs and was nearly flawless in serve receive on the weekend to help the Eagles win all twelve sets they played at F & M. Groff, who moved into the all-time lead in career digs and is the only Eastern player over 1600 digs, was named Tournament MVP.She was joined on the All-Tournament team by Benak.

"Our whole demeanor is better with Kelly's presence," Birtwistle said of having his senior libero in the line-up. "12-0 is a really good weekend for our group. We are playing better as a team."

The Eagles will not have much time to prepare for their first home match of the season against Wilkes University. The Colonels are in St. Davids for a 7 pm contest on Tuesday night. Wilkes, one of four 1-0 teams in Freedom Conference play will look to snap Eastern's regular season conference winning streak that dates bake to 1999.

Susquehanna Box
LVC Box