ST. DAVIDS, Pa.--Eastern Volleyball defended its home court on Tuesday with a three-set win over conference opponent DeSales University.

In a rematch of last year's Freedom Conference Championship, the Eagles started off slow in game one, but rallied to win the match 25-22, 25-13, 25-18.

Eastern, ranked No. 15 nationally in the latest AVCA poll, improved to 13-2 this season, while DeSales fell to 9-9.

The Eagles compiled a .331 hitting percentage in the match. Both Stephanie Elechko (Lansdale, Pa./ North Penn) and Lauren Sproles (Lititz, Pa./ Warwick) finished with 11 kills. Katrina Pisch added 10 kills (Blue Bell, Pa./ Merion Mercy) and Kearby Benak (Houston, Texas/ Langham Creek) nine. Amy Guarino contributed five kills in two sets, and Rikki Schlager (Lititz, Pa./ Manheim Twp.) and Erin Hillman (Allentown, Pa./ Parkland) combined for the Eagles' five remaining kills.

Schlager passed for 43 assists and added 12 digs. Freshman libero Rylie Haas (Bethlehem, Pa./ Freedom) dug out 19 DeSales' attacks.

The Eagles trailed 11-7 in the first set, triggering a timeout. The Eagles slowly made up ground and tied the game at 19-19 with a kill by Katrina Pisch. Lauren Sproles followed with a kill on the next point to give Eastern the lead. Sproles put Eastern up 23-22 with another kill. After the subsequent DeSales timeout, the Eagles took a 24-22 lead with another Pisch kill and then finished the set with a Sproles' ace.

Eastern dominated the second set, but DeSales kept the third set close. Stephanie Elechko put the match away with two kills at 24-17 and then 25-18.

The Eagles travel to Newport News, Va., this weekend where they will play Scranton University, No. 19 Christopher Newport and No. 17 Wisconsin-Whitewater.

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