HUNTINGDON, PA (October 6, 2021) -- In a battle of Landmark College unbeatens, No. 12 Juniata College used the home court to their advantage was the Eagles were able to best the Susquehanna University volleyball team in three sets in conference action from Memorial Gym. JC (15-1) earned the win with scores of 25-17, 25-22 and 25-21. 

The story of the match seemed to be the inability for the SU (11-5, 2-1 Landmark) offense to get going, as the River Hawks hit just .094 for the match, which was a season-low. Also, the kill total for SU was tied for the fewest this season, as the River Hawks were able to put away just 37 attempts. 

The first set was controlled by the Eagles (15-1, 3-0 Landmark) from the early stages, as the hosts jumped out to a 12-4 lead. Juniata led by as much as 12 before SU pulled to within four following a kill from Madison Rockey. JC would respond with four of the next five points to take the set, as the visiting River Hawks finished the game with -.065 hitting. 

The second game was back and forth, with Susquehanna leading by as many as five at 18-13 following a kill by Kody Dillon which forced a timeout by Juniata. The River Hawks would see their lead dwindle as the Eagles rattled off a 7-2 run to take a 22-20 lead. Susquehanna stopped the run on a Rosina Esposito kill, but the River Hawks never were able to regain the lead in falling behind 2-0 in the match. 

SU saw their best offensive set in the third, as the River Hawks posted 17 kills and hit .196 but Juniata was just as good with 15 kills in the game. While trading points early and often in the set, the game was tied as late as 17-17. That would come during a 5-0 run that pushed the hosts ahead for good, clinching the Landmark victory. 

Brooke LaCesa had a strong match for the River Hawks, as she hammered down 10 kills on just 20 attempts, hitting .400 while posting four assisted blocks as well. Esposito led SU with 18 kills on 59 attempts, also bagging 19 digs, and Lizzie Herestofa played another strong game with 25 digs. 

The River Hawks also got four blocks out of national block leader Paige Sfiroudis, and Rockey also posted 28 assists, four digs and two rejections. Defensive specialist Megan Nelson tallied 13 digs as well for the River Hawks, who led the match with five aces. 

Victoria Taylor paced JC with 13 kills, while Brianne Carmody and Kennedy Christy each had nine apiece in the win. 

Up Next

• Susquehanna will have a busy weekend this Friday and Saturday, hosting the River Hawk Classic in O.W. Houts Gymnasium. SU will welcome to town Stevens Institute of Technology, the University of Rochester and York College of Pennsylvania in all-day action Friday and Saturday. 

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