HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College volleyball team (4-4) was left stunned by visiting Elizabethtown (5-3) on Wednesday evening at Gooding '84 Arena, as the Blue Jays completed a dramatic reverse sweep after dropping the first two sets with identical 25-12 scores. The set scores for the match were 12-25, 12-25, 25-16, 26-24, 15-11. The Fords, who have now played six consecutive five-set matches, were led by Izabela Potocnjak's match-high double-double, as she notched 13 kills and 18 digs. Caroline Lucas made a strong offensive contribution with 11 kills, while Taylor Jones and Gia Frank each added nine kills.
The highlight of the night for Haverford was an impressive blocking performance, paced by Fiona Moord, who tallied three solo blocks and assisted on seven others. Frank and Jones each contributed five assisted blocks, with Jones also recording a solo block. The Fords' 16 total blocks were the most in a match since October 12, 2019, at Gettysburg. Cameryn DeBlecourt dished out 23 assists, while Kira Chaney stood out at libero with four service aces and 14 digs.
Haverford started strong in the opening set, hitting .250 while holding the Blue Jays to a negative hitting percentage. The Fords jumped out to a 12-4 lead, prompting an Elizabethtown timeout as the hosts were firing on all cylinders, fueled by kills from Frank and Lucas. Although Elizabethtown briefly closed the gap, a service run from Kayla Chu helped the Fords capitalize on five consecutive attack errors by the visitors, sealing the set at 25-12.
The second set had a similar script, with Haverford up 12-3 following a block from Jones and Lucas. Elizabethtown managed to close within five during a service run by Lucy Stanek, but Haverford quickly regained control, extending the lead to 20-8. Jones finished the set with a kill, giving the Fords a 2-0 advantage with another 25-12 win.
However, the Blue Jays came out with renewed energy in the third set, seizing a 12-0 lead. Haverford responded with a 7-0 run behind Potocnjak's serving, but 11 errors from the Fords allowed Elizabethtown to take the set, 25-16.
In the fourth set, Haverford seemed poised to close out the match, taking a 9-3 lead with a block from Moord and Frank, and later expanding the lead to 11-4. Yet, Elizabethtown mounted a comeback, led by Sierra Plummer and Stanek, who sparked an offensive surge. A kill from Savannah Lesley narrowed the Fords' advantage to four, and a combination of blocks and kills from Stanek and Gracie Britten brought the Blue Jays within two. Despite Lucas's crucial kill that put the Fords on match point, Elizabethtown rallied with a 4-0 run to force a decisive fifth set.
In the final set, the Blue Jays were aggressive from the start, taking a 4-2 lead. Haverford fought back to take a 5-4 edge, but the visitors continued to press, tying the score at multiple points and briefly taking a 9-8 lead, which led to a Haverford timeout. A 3-0 run by the Blue Jays put them ahead 12-8, and despite a late push by the Fords, including a clutch kill from Lucas and a block by Moord and Frank, a final block by Plummer and Britten secured the stunning comeback for Elizabethtown.
Haverford continues a busy September schedule by heading to Arcadia for a Tri-Match on Saturday, September 14, where they will face the host Knights and York (Pa.). Action begins at 1 p.m. in Glenside.