WASHINGTON, D.C. – After seeing an early lead dissipate into a 3-2 loss earlier in the day, the Gators proved resilient in their second game of the Worthington Classic, defeating DeSales, 3-2, on Friday evening at Gallaudet University.

Junior Taylor Samuel and sophomore Bailey Gawley finished the game with 14 kills each, tying the team highs, as the Gators returned from a 2-1 deficit with a 25-19, fourth set win and a 15-11 triumph in the decisive fifth set.  Freshman Justine Kelly racked up 42 assists for the Gators, while senior Catherine Kasianowicz and freshman Terra Schall led the Gators on the backline, recording 28 and 27 digs, respectively.

Kasianowicz added a team-high five service aces, including four consecutive aces in the fifth set that put the Gators in position to take the match.  The Gators finished the contest with seven total blocks, helped by a solo block and a pair of block assists from freshman Leah Franzluebbers along with three assisted blocks by junior Sarah Swartz.

Allegheny led, 13-7, in the first set, but DeSales came storming back, scoring six consecutive points to end the set with a 25-23 win.  The Gators returned the favor in comeback fashion in the second set, returning from a three-point deficit to tie the match at 14-14 before a 11-6, set-ending run, capped by a set-ending block from Kelly, tied the match, 1-1.

DeSales broke open the third set after turning a 7-5 lead into a 16-9 advantage, finishing the set with a 25-13 win and the 2-1 match lead.  A set-opening, three-point run on serve by freshman Kylee Karczewski set the tone for the fourth set, as Allegheny took a 7-3 lead.  An additional three-point run put the Gators up, 17-11, as a set-closing five-point run under serve from Swartz sent the Gators to the decisive fifth set with a 25-19 fourth set win.

In the fifth, the Gators trailed, 8-6 when Kasianowicz stepped to the service line.  The senior kick-started a nine-point run, highlighted by her four straight service aces, putting the squad up, 14-8.  After a quick three-point run from DeSales, Samuel ended the drama-packed contest with a line shot down the line, giving the Gators the 15-11, fifth set win and the match.

Allegheny will play two games to close the Worthington Classic on Saturday, started with a match against the hosting Bison at 12 p.m.