TOWSON, Md. – The Susquehanna University women's volleyball team erased a two-set deficit Friday evening, rallying to defeat Goucher College, 3-2, in a thrilling Landmark Conference matchup at the Decker Sports & Recreation Center.
Goucher took the opening two sets by scores of 25-22 and 25-22, putting the River Hawks on the brink. Susquehanna responded with a dominant third set, winning 25-17, before edging the Gophers 25-22 in the fourth set to force a decisive fifth.
The River Hawks completed the comeback in the fifth, closing out the match with a 15-10 victory to earn their first Landmark Conference win of the season. Susquehanna improved to 3-7 overall and 1-0 in conference play, while Goucher fell to 6-8 overall and 0-1 in the Landmark.
How It Went Down
- Susquehanna found itself trailing 2-0 after Goucher claimed both of the opening sets by identical 25-22 scores. The River Hawks battled through a second set in which they hit just .028, then flipped the momentum in the third.
- The turnaround was immediate as Susquehanna recorded 13 kills without committing an attack error in the third set, hitting .371 as a team while holding Goucher to a .000 hitting percentage. The River Hawks cruised to a 25-17 win to cut the deficit to one set.
- The fourth set featured a back-and-forth battle, but Susquehanna held on for another 25-22 victory to even the match at two sets apiece. The River Hawks then took control in the decisive fifth set, earning a 15-10 victory to complete the comeback.
Inside the Box Score
- Natalia Baca led the River Hawks with 17 kills, adding two service aces and four digs. Camille Ince followed with 11 kills, three aces, three blocks and 10 digs, while Sami Kline contributed nine kills.
- Lauren Halsey orchestrated the Susquehanna offense with 25 assists and added three service aces and 12 digs. Emma Nkanza recorded 10 assists, while Abby Madigan paced the defensive effort with a team-high 17 digs. Callie Wince added 11 digs.
- Addison Dodge anchored the net defense with six blocks, while Ince and Ella Lefelon each added three. As a team, Susquehanna finished with 48 kills, 13 aces and seven blocks while holding Goucher to 39 kills and six aces.
- The River Hawks' biggest offensive surge came after the opening two sets, hitting .371 in the third set and committing no attack errors during the frame.
Up Next for the River Hawks
- Susquehanna continues its weekend road trip Saturday, October 3, with a pair of matches at Catholic University. The River Hawks face Catholic at noon before taking on Randolph-Macon at 2:30 p.m.
