WASHINGTON, D.C.— Eastern University Women's Volleyball hit a solid .201 as a team and had a pair of players with over 20 kills, but the Eagles fell in four to a very good University Mount Union team on the opening night of the Worthington Classic hosted by Gallaudet University.
Piper Xeller posted a career-best 23 kills and
Alexis Standford added 20.
With Standford and Xeller both posting nine kills in the opening frame, the Eagles hit .275 and ground out a 25-23 win. Eastern led by four at 13-9, but Purple Raiders tied the score at 19. Consecutive solo blocks from
Josie Arezina and
Veronica Faber put Eastern up two and the Eagles were able to side-out to go up a set.
Mount Union (12-2) came into the match on a nine-match winning streak. The two sides exchanged lengthy rallies and leads in the second set, but the Raiders built a 24-21 lead in the second frame. A kill from
Maddie Golia and a pair from Xeller tied the set at 24 before Mount Union earned a sideout and a point on serve to win 26-24.
The Eagles led the third set early, but a four-point run with a pair of aces flipped the script and put Mount Union in control. The Purple Raiders pulled away to a 25-19 win.
Xeller had six more kills in the fourth, but the Eagles slipped behind early and were not able to close the gap to less than three in falling 25-21 in the fourth.
"We saw real progress tonight facing a strong Mount Union team," Head Coach
Mark Birtwistle said after the match. "We played hard and are improving in some important areas. Lex and Piper were really good tonight—not only accumulating kills but attacked efficiently and being smart in the right moments."
Grace Cooper finished with 24 digs, and
Emma Ciesielka added 19.
Sarah Furey, playing six rotations for the first match this year, finished with 30 assists and 16 digs. Standford hit a season-best .432.
The Eagles will play the host Bison and Arcadia tomorrow.
