WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 7, 2023) - The fifth seed Susquehanna River Hawks Volleyball team upset the fourth seed Catholic Cardinals in their Landmark Conference Quarterfinals match winning 3-2 Tuesday night, with set scores of 25-13, 25-23, 27-25, 25-23, and 16-14. 

The River Hawks started off hot by jumping out to a quick 7-2 lead before ballooning their lead up to double digits at a score of 18-8. They eventually took the set 25-13 thanks to a balanced scoring attack with four kills each from Emily Kowalski and Sami Kline.  

The second set saw Catholic jump out to a 7-2 lead of their own before Susquehanna went on a 6-0 run to take the lead thanks to two Catholic errors and Amanda Gore swatting three kills. The two teams then proceeded to go back and forth the rest of the set, but this time Catholic was able to win it 25-23 and even the match at one set a piece.  

Set three saw the River Hawks jump out to a big lead again this time at 9-3 as Kowalski and Gore continued their excellent play, but Catholic slowly chipped away at the deficit until they took the lead 24-23. However, Susquehanna tied it again thanks to a Gore kill and then rallied to steal the set 27-25 to take a 2-1 set lead.

With their backs against the wall Catholic took an early 6-2 lead in the fourth set and never trailed the rest of the way despite the River Hawks best efforts as they twice brought the score within one at 19-18 and 24-23 respectively. 

This brought in the match to a winner takes all set five where the two teams went back and forth until the River Hawks got some breathing room with a 10-7 lead, but once again Catholic fought back to bring the match to a 14-14 tie. Then a kill by Brie Livezey got Susquehanna to match point where Kline swatted the game-winning kill to send Susquehanna into the semifinals.  

The scoring trio of Kowalski, Gore, and Kline spearheaded the River Hawk win. Kowalski led the team with 21 kills, Gore tallied 17 kills and five assists, and Kline totaled 18 kills with a .500 hit percentage. Junior Kiera Roach led the team in assists with 67, and tied Valerie Stoltz, Regan Kane, and Callie Wince for the team lead in digs at 18. 

Susquehanna will now travel to Huntingdon, PA to face off against the number one seed, defending Landmark and national champion Juniata College Eagles. The match will be at 7 p.m. on November 9.