WILKES-BARRE, PA - The Susquehanna University women's volleyball team went 1-1 in double header action on Saturday October 4th in Wilkes Barre, losing to Widener University 3-1 and later coming back to win 3-1 against hosting King's College.
Susquehanna 1, Widener 3
- The first set saw Widener jump out to an early lead over the River Hawks, and then extend it to more than eight points after a 10 point swing. Susquehanna's late six point run was too late for Widener to hold on and take set 1 25-19.
- The second half was way closer in margin, as no team led by four until the end. After a timeout from Susquehanna Head Coach Johnny Powell, the River Hawks scored the next 5 points to steal set 2. Addison Dodge stacked a pair of kills and Elliot Schleicher sealed a 25-21 set 2 win for the River Hawks.
- Set three was more like set one, with Widener jumping out to an even bigger lead early and controlling it for most of the set, at one point being up by more than 12 points. Susquehanna only managed to score 10 points in the third set, with six different Lions combining for 13 kills in the set.
- Set four began again with a Widener lead, but the River Hawks eventually turned it into a 7 point swing for themselves and at one point led 10-8. From there the teams would ensue in a back and forth battle that Widener would eventually conquer, taking the fourth set 25-23.
- Gabriella Bottino had 21 kills for the Lions, with Azira Benjamin also contributing with 13 kills. Liz Barnes also recorded 34 digs for Widener. For the River Hawks, Mason led in the kills department with 11, and Addison threw in 9 kills herself. Sami Kline and Stella Robinson both also combined for 11 kills. Jessica Sack also recorded 26 digs defensively.
Susquehanna 3, King's 1Â
- The match began with Susquehanna gaining an early 10-6 lead over the Monarchs. After King scored two points, Susquehanna would go on to score 12 of the next 18 points, getting ahead 22-12. King's would score three more points before the River Hawks sealed the deal to take a 25-15 set one win
- The second set saw early back and forth action between the two teams, with no team leading by more than two points. Kings eventually found themselves ahead 13-10 after two straight kills. More back and forth action ensued, with at one point the River Hawks leading 16-15, but the Monarch went on to score 10 of the next 12 points, taking set 2 25-18 and making the match tied at 1-1
- Set three was more like the beginning set, with Susquehanna dominating from the first whistle. The River Hawks led as much as 13, and recorded 17 kills in the third set. A great sequence at the end of the third set saw Callie Wince and Mya Durham go back to back on kills for the River Hawks, and Jessica Sack seal the deal with a service ace to take set 25-12
- The fourth set saw the Monarchs get up to an early lead, this time around leading as high as 6-3. The River Hawks were able to come back and take a 11-7 lead of their own after kills from Durham and Addison Dodge. From there, the River Hawks would only allow King's to score seven points, as they went onto take the match with a 25-14 set 4 win.
- Mason once again led the way for the River Hawks with 15 kills and three service aces. Robinson and Dodge also contributed with 13 and nine respectively. Sami Kline also contributed with eight points. Jessica Sack also made her mark in the game with 34 digs, a kill, and a service ace.
Next for the River Hawks
- Susquehanna begins its Landmark Conference season next weekend on the road, starting at Wilkes University on Friday Oct. 10 then at Moravian Saturday, Oct. 11.Â
