RADNOR, Pa. – The Haverford College volleyball team posted a five-set victory (25-14, 18-25, 25-23, 12-25, 15-11) over the Cabrini Cavaliers at the Nerney Field House on Tuesday afternoon. Senior Keri Godbe posted a double-double with 25 digs and 17 kills.
The Fords scored the first six points of the match leading to a Cavaliers timeout. Haverford did not relent as it pushed the advantage to 15-6 before cruising to a 25-14 victory in set one. Four Fords recorded at least two kills in the set while the team tallied a .294 attack percentage.
The second set began the exact opposite of its predecessor as Cabrini jumped in front with 15 of the first 20 points. Haverford countered with a 10-2 run to close within two at 17-15, but could not make the score any tighter. The home team added the next five points and went on to take set two, 25-18.
A third set between these two teams was a closely contested battle as the first 22 points featured seven ties. Cabrini used an 8-1 stretch to go ahead 19-12, but Haverford wouldn't go away as it tied the score at 21 and again at 22. Two attack errors by the Cavaliers gave the Fords a 24-22 lead and a junior Valentine Courouble kill summated a set victory for the visitors. Courouble carried Haverford in the set with five kills and no errors in nine attempts. Cabrini sent the match to a fifth and deciding set with a 25-12 win in set four. The Cavaliers scored 20 of the first 27 points in the set before securing the victory despite Godbe's four kills.
Haverford looked to have sieged control in the deciding set, but Cabrini put up four of the next five points to get back within in one at 7-6. Back-to-back kills by junior Elena Garcia and Courouble extended the Fords' lead to three and the Cavaliers couldn't any closer. Godbe's sixth kill of the set put Haverford in the win column. The Fords picked up the fifth set with help from their .320 attack percentage.
After posting 20 double-doubles last season, Godbe picked up right where she left off as she had the match high in kills and digs. She is two shy of 1,200 career kills and ranks sixth all-time, just in front of her classmate, Meg O'Day (1,165).
Sophomore Kaylynn Mayo set a career high with nine kills in the match while Courouble also had nine kills. Senior Nina Mutty registered 21 digs and six kills in the win. Cabrini had three players with at least 10 kills as Nicole Sokolovich lead the way (14). The Fords had three service aces, a solo block and eight block assists to help secure the victory.
Head coach Michele Benoit's squad won its 13th match in 15 attempts all-time vs. Cabrini, but first since 2012. The Fords will now host the first day of the Haverford/Swarthmore Invitational on Saturday. The team's first match will begin with CCNY at 11 a.m. followed by a contest vs. Stevenson at 3 p.m.