OWINGS MILLS, Md.—No. 19 Eastern University Volleyball (19-5) earned a pair of wins on Saturday in the Middle Atlantic Conference Crossover event, topping Stevenson University in four sets and then Lebanon Valley College in three sets.
The Eagles took care of Stevenson, who was hosting the event, 19-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-22, and then knocked off LVC by identical set scores, 25-17, 25-17, 25-17.
Stevenson, a team that's been in consistent consideration for a top-25 ranking all season, jumped on the Eagles in the first set, but the Eagles rattled off three straight set victories. With the win, Eastern snapped Stevenson's 15-match win streak.
In the fourth set, the Eagles had match point at 24-15, but the Mustangs appeared to be threatening to force a fifth set. The Mustangs rattled off seven straight points to bring the score to 24-22, but Eastern's Morgan Shemonski and Alicia Weigel stuffed a Mustangs' attack at the net to secure the victory.
Despite not having Stephanie Elechko in the middle today, the Eagles recorded a season-high 18 total team blocks, including eight solos. Weigel smacked three solo blocks and four assisted blocks.
While the Eagles blocked a high number of attacks, they still reported an above average number of digs, 79 (19.75 per set). Libero Rylie Haas covered a lot of ground, tallying 29 digs. Sproles and Miranda Kauffman each had 13 digs, and Rikki Schlager added 10 digs. Schlager dealt 35 assists as the Eagles hit .113 as a team.
Katrina Pisch, senior middle hitter, led the Eagles with 10 kills while hitting .280 and tallying seven blocks. Sproles and Shemonski each added nine kills. Shemonski also had six blocks.
In the second match of the day, the Eagles dealt the LVC Dutchmen just their fourth loss of the season. The Eagles trailed by small margins in the beginning of the first two sets but took over midway through both sets. In the third set, the Eagles started hot, jumping to a 9-1 lead, and never looked back.
Sproles led the Eagles with 11 kills, Erin Hillman added nine and Pisch and Shemonski each recorded eight.
Schlager dished out 35 assists again, helping the Eagles hit. 197 for the match. Haas picked up 21 of the Eagles' 58 digs.
The Eagles held the Dutchmen to an even .000 attack percentage for the match.
Eastern has just one match this upcoming week. The Eagles host Manhattanville College at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
Box Score vs. Stevenson (Currently Unavailable)
Box Score vs. Lebanon Valley College
