The Shippensburg University volleyball team won another pair of matches at the Chowan Tournament, sweeping both Elizabeth City State and Catawba on Saturday.
Shippensburg (5-2) received strong efforts from a variety of players, with junior Emily Gardner (Avon, Ohio/Avon) pacing the day with a double-double in both matches. She had 11 kills and 11 digs against ECS, followed by 12 kills and 12 digs against Catawba. Senior Kaitlyn Townsend (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) added 19 total kills on team-best .350 hitting percentage, while also contributing on the defensive end with 10 blocks, and junior Maddie Clabaugh (Gettysburg, Pa./Delone Catholic) compiled 14 kills and 16 digs.
Freshman Shay Kolivoski (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern) continued to impress from the libero position, amassing 34 digs and three service aces in six sets played, while sophomore Kearstin Davis (San Antonio, Tex./Reagan) remained in form with 60 assists, 19 digs, and two aces on the day.
Shippensburg 3, Elizabeth City State 0 (25-23, 26-24, 25-20)
Although they won in straights, Elizabeth City State challenged Shippensburg throughout the entirety of the match. The Raiders just edged the Vikings in kills 39-to-32, while their overall hitting percentage of .131 slightly bettered ECS’s percentage of .114.
The first frame saw an early lead carry the Raiders through most of the set, but ECS fought back and stalled them from securing their 25thand final point. Up by as much as 24-15, SU allowed the Vikings to score on eight consecutive plays to bring the deficit within one point at 24-23. The Raiders finally shut the door on a shared block between Clabaugh and Townsend.
The second set followed a similar pattern in that SU led early but let ECS back in with a late extended run. Tied at 24-24, a Viking service error produced a set point that Shippensburg sealed with a block from Gardner and Cappleman. ECS broke pattern in the opening of the following set by taking their first lead of the night, but the Raiders soon regained control and put themselves back on top by 15-14. SU never relinquished the lead from that point and closed the match on three kills from Townsend.
Shippensburg 3, Catawba 0 (25-21, 26-24, 25-19)
Shippensburg’s second sweep of the day happened in a similarly competitive fashion. The Raiders hit three fewer kills than the Indians with just 33 to their 36, but made up for it in efficiency, hitting .178 to their .106.
The Indians held close to the Raiders to start the match but a 9-3 run midway through the first set gave SU the burst it needed to clinch the frame. The first set was Shippensburg’s most efficient of the match with a .265 hitting percentage. The second set featured 10 tie scores. Last tied at 24-24, Gardner nailed two straight kills to send the match into its third and final set.
The third set was a game of runs. SU opened to a 6-1 advantage, but Catawba quickly responded with an 8-2 run of their own. After a handful of ties scores, another 8-3 swing brought SU to a 20-14 margin that would hold for the remainder of the match. The win was ensured by a pair of aces from junior Kat Negron (Longwood, Fla./Lyman).
SU concludes the Chowan Tournament at 12 p.m. tomorrow against Lincoln Memorial.
