HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College volleyball team posted a pair of resounding victories on Saturday afternoon inside the Gooding '84 Arena, kicking off the Haverford Invitational with sweeps over Wells (25-17, 25-14, 27-25) and Vassar (25-6, 25-14, 25-21). The Fords are 2-0 as both their opponents fell to 0-2 after the first day of the regular season.
Haverford 3, Wells 0
Haverford looked strong out of the gates, jetting out to an early 11-6 lead in the first set. A strong debut from first year Lindsey Keener helped the Fords control the early goings, as the Fords cruised to a commanding 22-14 lead. Keener finished the first set of her collegiate career with an impressive seven kills on just nine total attempts. Consecutive Wells errors on its final two possessions gave the first set to the Fords at 25-17.
In the second set, the Fords and Express were level in the early goings. The momentum shifted in favor of Haverford as Kendall Robison took her turn at the service line with the scoreboard reading 7-6 in favor of Wells. Robison oversaw a dominant 10-0 Fords run, recording five service aces in the stretch as Wells was stuck searching for answers, suddenly down by nine at 16-7. The visitors were able to climb back to within six at 19-13, but consecutive Keener kills put Haverford up 21-13 before the hosts pulled away to take a 25-14 victory.
The two sides were deadlocked late into the third, before the Fords were able to earn the victory through a solid blocking effort. First year Kendall Otridge was involved in three blocks within the span of six points, putting Haverford ahead 13-10 as she teamed up with Riley Outen on an emphatic rejection. The match was tied at 19-19, but kills from Dina Kosyagin and Keener helped the Fords earn set point at 25-24. Wells pulled even at 25-25, but Julia Gallagher-Teske pressured the visitors, putting down a powerful kill to side out before ending the match with a block at 27-25.
Keener paced the Fords with a match-high 15 kills. Gallagher-Teske added eight kills and recorded five blocks, including her 300th career tally early in the first set. Sara Hunsberger recorded 29 assists, while Sara Matsumura had 16. Robison had a career-best five service aces.
Haverford 3, Vassar 0
Entering the second match of the day, the Fords kept their momentum as they again began on a tear, taking a 7-0 lead and eventually stretching that advantage to 17-3. Consecutive kills from Madison Adore and Dina Kosyagin extended the lead to 20-4, and Adore later found a kill for a commanding 22-5 lead. The Fords eventually cruised to a 25-6 win.
The intensity was on display in the second set, as the hosts again jumped out to a large lead, taking a 17-5 lead on an Adore kill. Vassar showed some prowess to cut the Haverford lead to just six at 20-14, but Haverford was able to take control, closing on a 4-1 run as Keener and Adore both registered kills in the final stretch.
Vassar was undeterred despite the fast Haverford start, keeping the third set close. The Brewers grabbed a 14-12 advantage, and neither side held more than a two-point advantage until the Fords closed on a 3-0 run. Keener and Miller notched consecutive kills to set up match point, and Adore gave Haverford the win with her 10th kill of the match. Adore posted a career-best hitting percentage (.450) in the contest.
Kosyagin had a game-best 11 kills while Adore added 10 on just 20 swings. Sydney Miller recorded a double-double with 30 assists and 11 digs, while Sara Matsumura contributed 18 digs. Elena Filograna and Matsumura each posted three service aces, while Gallagher-Teske tacked on five total blocks to pace the Fords.
Haverford will now wrap up its Haverford Invitational with a pair of contests on Sunday. The Fords will take on local foe Eastern (10 a.m.) before closing out the first weekend of tournament play against Medaille (2 p.m.).