Box Score ST. DAVIDS, Pa. – Eastern University Volleyball hit an impressive .351 to earn an impressive three-set home win over Susquehanna University in the first match of a busy weekend for both teams. Eastern, ranked 14th in the most recent AVCA National Poll, won by scores of 25-21, 25-15, and 25-20.
Eastern (22-6) trailed by multiple point deficits twice in the first set. Both times, however, the Eagles were able to piece together impressive runs of points to retake the lead. The Eagles used a 5-0 run with
Lauren Horst serving to claim a 12-9 lead. That lead slipped away as the Crusaders took advantage of some early Eastern miscues. Head Coach
Mark Birtwistle called a timeout with his team trailing 19-18. A service error from Susquehanna gave the Eagles a critical point and the momentum the team would need to pull away to a 25-21 win. Eastern hit .333 with14 kills in the opening set.
Eastern jumped to a 4-1 lead in the second set. The Crusaders (20-9) tied the match at 6-6 before the Eagles went on a 6-0 run with
Rikki Schlager serving to extend the lead to 12-6. Susquehanna managed to cut the deficit but couldn't pull even. Eastern tallied 11 of the last 15 points to secure the win. The Eagles commited only three hitting errors in the set and hit .387.
The Eagles continued their efficient offense and steady defense to hold off the Crusaders in the third set. Kaitlin Gochenauer and
Morgan Shemonski combined on back-to-back blocks midway through the set to spark a 5-0 run.
Eastern hit .351 for the match. Susquehanna's attack was stymied by Eastern's impressive presence at the net and strong back row play. The Crusaders hit .088. Schlager ran the offense efficiently and finished with 34 assists and four kills on five attacks.
Stephanie Elechko put away nine kills on only 14 swings for an error-free .643 hitting percentage.
Michelle Paulsen also recorded nine kills. The first year middle hitter earned three blocks and was a constant presence at the net.
Eastern's home quad-match will continue tomorrow morning. The Eagles will take on Stockton University tomorrow morning at 10 and then Swarthmore College at 4 PM.
