PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Once again the stories were different but the results were the same for the Allegheny College volleyball team today at the St. John Fisher College Invitational, as the Gators picked up a pair of victories to open the competition.
In its last appearance, Allegheny (7-4, 0-0 NCAC) needed five sets and a comeback to defeat Westminster (Pa.) before sweeping Grove City in three frames. Today, the Gators had little trouble with D'Youville, earning their second three-set victory (25-15, 25-17, 25-14) over the Spartans in as many weekends, before battling back from a deficit to topple Alfred (N.Y.) in five games (25-16, 19-25, 24-26, 25-15, 15-10).
Junior setter
Justine Kelly posted a double-double against D'Youville, collecting 31 assists and 11 digs. Fellow junior
Leah Franzluebbers received the most of Kelly's helpers, cashing in on 11 of her 28 swings, and third-year outside hitter
Hannah Cubarney added seven kills.
Kelly was one of four Gators to register double-digit digs, joining
Terra Schall (15),
Kylee Karczewski (10), and
Karissa Welker (10). Sophomore middle hitter
Meghan Uht led the block brigade with five rejections, while junior right side
Bailey Gawley and freshman outside hitter
Alysha Crowther tallied a pair of block assists each.
In the nightcap, Allegheny rallied from being behind Alfred, 2-1, and won the match in five sets.
The junior setter again had a strong performance, falling just shy of a 10 assists per set average as she tallied 49. Kelly also served up a quartet of aces and found the floor on six of her 17 swings.
Franzluebbers and Cubarney led the Gator offense with 13 kills each. The former added six digs and four blocks defensively, while the latter rejected three attacks at the net. Uht also sent back a trio of swings, while connecting on six of her own.
Schall paced the Allegheny back line with 24 digs, while
Rachel Slotterback (13), Karczewski (12), and Welker (11) all posted double-digit dig efforts.
Crowther provided an offensive spark in two of the frames, needing just nine swings to collect four kills.
Allegheny is back on the court at noon tomorrow when it faces Buffalo State. The Gators end the invitational at approximately 2:00 p.m. when it looks to avenge a season-opening loss to Baldwin Wallace.
