Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MEADVILLE, Pa. – Eight blocks in two games by freshman Bailey Gawley, including three in a dramatic fourth-set comeback against Albion, highlighted Allegheny's first day split at the 2013 Gator Invitational.  The Gators would drop a five-set decision to the Britons after sweeping Thiel, 3-0, to open the tournament hosted at the David V. Wise Center.

Gawley added nine kills to her impressive home debut at the front line, joining sophomore Sarah Swartz, who followed up her All-Tournament Team selection last week at the 2013 Crusader Classic with 13 kills against Albion.  Junior Catherine Kasianowicz paced the play on the defensive end, averaging 6.25 digs per set on the evening, scoring a pair of service aces in the five-set thriller. 

"The blocking in game four against Albion brought us back into the match," commented Allegheny head coach Bridget Sheehan.  "It happened during a crucial time and it was exciting to see our freshman middle really come alive at that point."

Sophomore Julia Weeks scored 19 kills against the Britons, hitting at a .327 clip in the latter match of the evening.  Fellow second year Jessica Napierata assisted on 46 kills.

After dropping a 25-15 decision in the first set against Albion, the Gators responded with a 25-21 win in game two that tied the contest.  Down 2-1 after a 25-23 loss in game three, Albion held match point with a 24-23 advantage in the fourth.  Gawley responded by blocking three consecutive attempts by Briton attackers, adding a kill to send the Gators into the decisive fifth set with a 29-27 win.  Albion would take the contest with a 15-12 win in the fifth.

Allegheny came back from deficits in the first and third sets to pick up a closely-contested three-set win over Thiel.  In the first, the Tomcats led, 12-7, before the Gators were able to respond with a 7-2 run to tie up the contest.  Napierata would close the deal on the first set victory after Weeks served a three-point run that provided Allegheny with a much-needed cushion.  

Thiel battled back and forth with Allegheny in the second set, unable to put away the Tomcats as the Gators saw a late six-point lead evaporate to a 19-17 advantage.  The squad was able to pick up the two-set advantage, as Samuel scored the game-winner.  The Gators clinched the sweep with a 25-23 third set win, returning from an 11-8 deficit, mainly due to a critical eight-point run under serve from Napierata that gave the squad a three-point lead late.

The Gators will return to the court on Saturday, Sept. 14 to close out their tournament schedule, taking on Bluffton at 10 a.m. before finishing against Buffalo State at 2 p.m.