HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College volleyball team (3-1) split the day at its home Invitational on Saturday, splitting a pair of five-set matches. The Fords were upended by Stockton before returning to down Wheaton in five, finishing the weekend slate with a 3-1 record.
Following the conclusion of tournament action, Haverford sophomore Gia Frank and senior Taylor Jones were each named to the Haverford Invitational All-Tournament team. Nicole Palmer of Stockton was named the Most Valuable Player of the weekend event.
Stockton 3, Haverford 2 (17-25, 25-20, 25-20, 22-25, 15-8)
In the first match of the day, Haverford employed a well-balanced offensive approach that featured five players with more than five kills. Leading the attack was the duo of Frank with a team-best 11 kills and Caroline Lucas with nine. Cameryn DeBlecourt recorded a double-double, contributing 21 assists and 11 digs, while Igonin added significantly to the offense with 14 assists. Kira Chaney led the defensive effort with 17 digs. The blocking front was anchored by rookie Fiona Moord, who had four blocks, while Jones and Potocnjak each added three.
Haverford hit .318 to take the first set, racing out to an 18-10 lead, capped by a Kira Chaney service ace, before Stockton tightened the gap considerably.. The Fords maintained a 21-15 lead following a Potocnjak kill, and Lucas extended it to 22-16 with another kill. A block by Moord and Frank ended the frame at 25-17.
Stockton responded in the second set, jumping to a 15-10 lead and prompting a Haverford timeout. The Fords stayed right in the thick of things, with Eliana Brown narrowing the gap to three with a kill. A 2-0 run by Haverford late in the set led to a Stockton timeout after back-to-back Osprey errors brought the score to 23-20. However, a kill from Kate Louer helped Stockton regain control, closing out the set 25-20 and leveling the match at 1-1.
In the third set, Stockton surged ahead early, taking a 10-3 lead before Haverford rallied to tie the score at 12-12, highlighted by consecutive service aces from Jones. Igonin added another crucial ace, and the teams traded points until a late 4-1 run by Stockton, powered by a Palmer kill and a block from Rileigh Wilson and Jaylah Rolle, secured the go-ahead set at 25-20.
Haverford answered back in the fourth set, erasing a 17-12 deficit to tie the score at 18-18. Stockton attempted to close out the match, pulling ahead 23-20 and prompting another Haverford timeout. The Fords then seized momentum, with Jones and Potocnjak combining for a crucial block before Frank delivered an ace. A Stockton error followed, and Jones ended the set with a kill, 25-22.
Stockton grabbed the early advantage in the decisive fifth set, building an 11-5 lead. Haverford fought back valiantly, narrowing the margin to 11-9 after a block from Moord and Brown. However, the Fords were unable to score again, as Stockton closed out the match with a 3-0 run.
Haverford 3, Wheaton (Mass.) 2 (26-28, 25-18, 24-26, 25-17, 15-4)
Rematching against the Lyons, Haverford faced a much tougher challenge than on Friday night. Strong performances from Eliana Brown (15 kills on 50 attempts) and Gia Frank (14 kills on 23 swings) helped secure the final match of the weekend for the Fords. DeBlecourt (24 assists) and Kayla Chu were crucial in the passing game, while Brown earned a double-double by adding 16 digs. Téa Kuzbari contributed 18 digs, and Jones led the blocking effort with two solo blocks and four assisted blocks.
Potocnjak delivered an impressive nine service aces against just two service errors and added eight kills.
Wheaton stunned the Fords in the first set, with Haverford unable to close out after a strong start. The Fords held set point at 24-21, but a determined effort from the Lyons tied the score at 24-24. The teams were level again at 26-26 after a block from Frank and Jones, but Wheaton won the final three points, fending off set point with a crucial sideout and then attacking for a 28-26 victory.
In the second set, the Fords aimed to rebound, but after building a 9-3 lead, Wheaton responded with a run to tie the score at 9-9. Wheaton again tied the set at 15-15, but Haverford pulled away, winning six of the final seven points for a 25-18 decision.
The third set was another closely fought battle, with Wheaton resisting any thoughts of a quick victory by Haverford. The Fords opened a 20-16 lead after a pivotal 6-0 run, capped by a block from Moord and Brown. Wheaton responded, prompting a Haverford timeout at 20-20. The sides remained neck and neck, tied again at 22-22 and 24-24, before a thorough late run by Wheaton, finished with a Jackie Hochberg service ace, put the Lyons back ahead in the match at 2-1.
Haverford looked for a strong performance in the fourth set and built an early 13-6 lead. However, the Lyons mounted another comeback, tying the score at 17-17. Kayla Chu then took over at the service line, making life difficult for the visitors with two aces wrapped around kills from Brown and Lucas, leading to a Wheaton timeout at 23-17. Chu continued her strong service run out of the stoppage, helping Haverford score the final eight points to force a decisive fifth set.
In the fifth set, Haverford dominated early, with Potocnjak delivering a commanding service run to put her team ahead 12-2, effectively sealing the victory. Wheaton managed to cut the deficit to nine, but consecutive kills from Brown gave Haverford set point, and an attack error by Wheaton clinched the match. The Fords hit .357 in the deciding set while holding Wheaton to a negative hitting percentage.
The Fords now have time to prepare for a Friday night matchup against Eastern, a team receiving votes in the national poll. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. in St. Davids, Pa. Haverford will then travel to Messiah on Saturday morning for a tri-match against the host Falcons and Virginia Wesleyan. The next home contest is set for Wednesday, September 11, against Elizabethtown at 7 p.m.