HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College volleyball team (7-1) completed a perfect weekend at the Ford Invitational on Saturday afternoon, slipping past Scranton in another five-set battle before downing Cabrini in three sets to put a bow on the unblemished weekend. Dina Kosyagin was named the Ford Invitational tournament MVP after 64 kills over the four matches. Kosyagin averaged 3.56 kills per set to lead Haverford. Abby Holland (40 kills, 15 total blocks) and Juliet Young (96 digs, 21 assists) also earned spots on the All-Tournament team after impressive performances.
Haverford 3, Scranton 2
The Fords yet again played five-set volleyball in the first of two on Saturday afternoon, taking on a pesky Scranton side that had visions of spoiling Haverford's weekend plans. The first set went to the Fords behind a late run that turned a 17-17 tie into a 25-21 victory. The blocking effort from Jadyn Elliott and Taylor Jones was a huge part of the rhythm of the set, while Gabrielle Fontanilla proved to be vital at setter as Haverford went ahead 1-0. The second set went to Scranton, and after the score was knotted at 18-18 in the third, Haverford was forced onto the ropes by a 3-0 Royals run. Scranton looked strong down the stretch in the frame, taking the 25-20 win by scoring four of the final five points.
The Fords immediately set their sights on a comeback, sprinting out to a 7-1 lead behind a Taylor Jones service run in the fourth. The lead eventually hit 13-6 as Kendall Otridge notched a momentous kill, and Scranton was forced to play from behind with Haverford suddenly in a comfortable position. Otridge found the floor with a kill to force the deciding fifth set, as the Fords hit a game-best .412 in the stanza, with 16 kills and just two errors on 34 swings.
In the fifth set, high drama was certainly on display in Gooding Arena as Haverford went ahead 10-5 before the Royals came back to tie the score at 12-12 with three consecutive kills. The Royals served for match point at 14-13 and 15-14, but a resilient Fords defense went to work to side out and set things up nicely for the hitters. Kosyagin tied the score at 16-16, and an attack error from the Royals gave Haverford its own match point opportunity. Otridge again connected with the final kill as Haverford improved to 3-0 on the weekend.
Kosyagin (18 kills), Otridge (12), and Holland (12) each tallied in double-digits for the Fords. Young (25 digs) was again a standout in the early stages of her career, while the blocking corps was anchored by Taylor Jones (5 blocks), Elliott (5), and Holland (3). Otridge and Fontanilla also added multiple stoppages.
Haverford 3, Cabrini 0
Facing a familiar Main Line foe in Cabrini, the Fords prevailed in straight sets, a welcome development for a side that had played three consecutive five-set matches to open the tournament. In the first set, Haverford went ahead 12-6 in the early goings, prompting a Cabrini timeout. Cabrini battled back to pull within two at 13-11, but Haverford unleashed a 6-0 run to gain some breathing room. Cabrini forced a Haverford timeout at 21-18 following a 4-0 run, but the stoppage helped focus the Fords into a 4-1 stretch that ended the frame.
The second set was a similar story for the hosts, with Haverford prompting Cavaliers timeout at 18-11. Cabrini struggled offensively in the set, with a negative hitting percentage. Isabel Schwam was at the service line for a 5-0 run to close out the set and give Haverford a methodical 25-12 win.
Cabrini battled in the third, pulling out to the lead early thanks in part to strong setter play from Melanie Cotes-Rivera. Cabrini eventually went ahead by as many as five at 12-7, prompting a Haverford timeout. With renewed energy, Haverford then rattled off six straight points to take back the lead. The Fords went ahead for good at 15-14, closing the contest on a 4-0 run to take the 25-20 victory in the final frame. Kosyagin (11 kills) and Otridge (11) paced the hitters while Hunsberger (25 assists) and Young (18 digs) led the passing and defensive units, respectively.
The block, anchored largely by newcomers, was again a force for Haverford, with Elliott connecting on seven total blocks and Holland grabbing five of her own. Elliott’s seven blocks tied for the fourth-most in a three-set match in program history. Haverford’s 12 total blocks were the third-most in the program’s three-set match history.
Haverford returns to action on Friday, September 17, hitting the road for the first time in the 2021 campaign as they head to the Neumann Knights tournament in Aston, Pa. Haverford will face off with Messiah and the host Knights on Friday evening before battling Widener on Saturday.
Ford Invitational All-Tournament Te
MH, Bridgette Kelly, Eastern
S, Caleigh Cox, Scranton
DS, Juliet Young, Haverford
MB, Abby Holland, Haverford
OH, Dina Kosyagin, Haverford
Ford Invitational Tournament MVP
OH, Dina Kosyagin, Haverford