HOBOKEN, N.J. – The Haverford College volleyball team recorded a 3-1 victory (29-27, 22-25, 25-21, 25-15) against FDU-Florham on Saturday to split its matches on the second day of the Stevens Invitational. The Fords (12-11) concluded the tournament with a three-set defeat at the hands of the host Ducks, a team receiving votes in the latest national poll.
Four players recorded at least 10 kills during the Fords' win over FDU-Florham (14-12). Valentine Courouble led all players with a match-best 21 kills. Natalie Pisch (12 kills), Hailey O'Mara (11 kills), and Julia Gallagher-Teske (10 kills) also reached double figures. Both O'Mara and Pisch finished with double-doubles as each had 10-plus dig outings.
Haverford started the day with its longest set of the season before prevailing by a 29-27 score. The opening set was tied on 15 different occasions before Pisch recorded a kill to lock down the opening set. The only advantage of more than three points the entire first set came when FDU-Florham was up by a 4-1 score.
After a 25-22 second set went in favor of FDU-Florham, Haverford put itself on the brink of victory with seven of the last 10 points in the third set after the two sides were tied at 18-all. Courouble had three kills during the Fords' final seven points of the set to help lock down the win. Haverford put the finishing touches on the win with its most convincing set of the afternoon. Up 21-15, the Fords got two more kills from Courouble before a Gallager-Teske kill sealed the win.
Setting up the offense, Zoe Wong had 50 assists in the win. Defensively, Maddie Becker finished with a career-high 35 digs as the libero. Gallagher-Teske added to her standout game at the net with one solo block and five block assists.
Playing host Stevens (24-3), Haverford posed its strongest challenge of the afternoon in the first set as the Fords tied the match at 24-all behind back-to-back kills from Pisch and an attack error from the Ducks. However, Stevens got the next two points hold off the Haverford surge. Haverford led 4-2 in the second set, but six straight points from the Ducks paved the way to the 2-0 advantage. Stevens then closed out the match with a 25-19 win in the final set.
Courouble once again led the Fords in kills during the match against Stevens with 16 in 53 attempts. Pisch also reached double figure totals during the second match as she finished with 12 kills. Zoe Wong accounted for 34 assists during the match. Defensively, Becker led the way with 20 digs, while four block assists from Elena Garcia led the Fords in that category.
Wong and Courouble were named to the All-Tournament Team following the Invitational.
Volleyball will wrap up its final home matches of the regular season this coming week. Up first will be a match up with Bryn Mawr on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Next weekend's tri-match begins with a crucial Centennial Conference meeting against McDaniel with a match against Baruch marking the final home contest of the regular season.