HAVERFORD, Pa.— In what was supposed to be the team's home-opener, Eastern University Women's Volleyball (3-5) dropped a tough three-set match down the Main Line at Haverford College. Though they were able to extend rallies, the Eagles struggled to finish points against the big Haverford block.
After the teams traded points early, the Eagles built a seven-point lead behind some big serves from
Sarah Furey and
Emma Ciesielka.
Veronica Faber delivered a kill to put the Eagles up 18-11. After the teams traded sideouts, the Fords (6-1) started to grind away at the Eastern lead with consistent passing and aggressive serving. Out of a timeout, the Eagles scored to go up 23-20. The Eagles fought off a set point at 24-23, but the hosts scored the final two points to win the opener 26-24.
Piper Xeller and
Lane McLaughlin had two kills each and were the only two Eastern players with multiple kills in the first set.
The Eagles trailed for much of the second set but closed the gap to a single point at 20-19. Haverford recorded blocks on three of the final points of the frame to win 25-19. In addition to seven total blocks in the set, the Haverford block forced the Eastern hitters into tips and rolls. The Eagles got three kills apiece from
Jessie Schreiber and
Josie Arezina in the second, but the team finished with a zero hitting percentage in the set.
The Eagles had an even more difficult time finding the floor in the third. Haverford had 28 digs on the way to a 25-16 win in the third.
Eastern is off for a week before traveling to Washington, D.C. for three matches next weekend.
