Volleyball Stymies Ursinus, 3-1

Sydney Miller
Sydney Miller
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COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. - The Haverford College volleyball team (16-5, 2-2 CC) registered a 3-1 victory over host Ursinus (6-13, 0-5 CC) Wednesday evening inside Helfferich Hall. The Fords prevailed by set scores of 20-25, 25-15, 25-18, and 25-14. 

Setter Sydney Miller stuffed the stat sheet in a standout performance, tallying 43 assists while also adding seven kills on a career-best .200 hitting percentage. Miller notched her third double-double effort, adding 11 digs, two service aces, and two blocks. 

Dina Kosyagin had a match-best 16 kills in the victory, while Madison Adore also reached double-digits, adding 11. Kendall Otridge grabbed nine kills, while Lindsey Keener and Julia Gallagher-Teske both added eight. Gallagher-Teske had a match-best three total blocks. Sara Matsumura was again a defensive standout with 28 digs. Matsumura also contributed a match-best three service aces. 

In the first set, Haverford was stifled by a late run from the host Bears. After the two sides were level at 14-14, it was Ursinus that pulled away with a 6-1 run to take a 20-15 lead. Katie Cressman and Kelly Piotrowicz then helped key a 3-0 jaunt to deliver set point to the hosts. Otridge notched a kill to pull Haverford an inch closer, but Paige DeAlba notched a kill to end the set at 25-20.

The second set saw the Fords in command throughout, taking a 16-8 lead out of the gates as Gallagher-Teske and Adore teamed up for a block. Ursinus battled to cut the advantage to just five at 17-12, but an 8-3 run from Haverford closed the frame out at 25-15. Haverford was nearly flawless offensively, with 17 kills against just two errors for a match-best .429 hitting percentage in the stanza. 

As has been the case in a multitude of Haverford victories this season, a fast start was key to the third set. A 11-4 run to open the third helped Haverford to a commanding 19-10 lead following a kill from Miller. Ursinus unleashed a 4-0 run from that point, but Haverford squashed any thoughts of a sustained comeback from the hosts with a 4-1 run that Adore punctuated with a kill. Miller then found the floor with another kill to put the set away at 25-18. 

The fourth was characterized by another strong start from Haverford, as the Fords jetted out to a 13-3 lead. Ursinus rallied to cut the lead to within seven at 19-12, but the Fords closed on a 4-1 run to take a 25-14 victory. 

Cressman added 11 kills for Ursinus while Rachael Girard tallied 16 assists. Three different Bears had double-digit digs in a well-rounded effort. 

Haverford has now prevailed in 23 straight meetings with Ursinus, a stretch that dates back to the 1999 season. The Fords will next head to Gettysburg for a tri-match on Saturday, taking on the host Bullets (1 p.m.) and Stevenson, a team receiving votes in the latest AVCA Poll (3 p.m.).