Volleyball tops .500

Blue Jays Volleyball completed a very successful week, winning all three of their games and improving to 14-12 overall and 5-2 in Centennial Conference play. At home, on Wednesday, the Jays swept the Washington Shorewomen before winning both games in a tri-match against Dickinson and Ursinus on Saturday.

Versus Washington, Hopkins posted impressive numbers en route to a 3-0 win. Senior outside hitter Emily Miller led the charge with 11 kills and 13 digs. Juniors Sarah Payne and Liz Breese added a combined 18 kills in the middle position, while freshman setter Betsy Baydala totaled 35 assists and three aces.

In Collegetown, Pa., Hopkins first played Dickinson, winning a close match in five games, four of which were decided by three points or less.

Helping Hopkins pull through with a win were Miller, Breese, and Payne, who had 23, 15 and nine kills, respectively. Baydala chipped in with a massive 46 assists, while freshman right side hitter Erin Trish had a team- and career-high 26 digs.

The next match was against home team Ursinus, whom the Jays beat, with a little more breathing room this time, in four games. Miller put in 18 kills, while freshman outside hitter Betsy Farmer and Breese each got 10 kills to contribute to the win. Trish once again led the team with 22 digs, and Baydala remained a force, racking up 38 assists and 19 digs.

Hopkins is definitely on a roll heading into the final weeks of the season.

Payne said of the weekend matches, "Our team is playing better now than we have at any other point during the season. We showed ourselves this past weekend at Ursinus that we have what it takes to win conference games."

The Jays also finally broke well into .500 territory to finish the week. The squad has been at .500 before, but had never broken the mark until this week. This achievement lets the Jays focus more on their ultimate test: the Conference Championships.

"We definitely aren't expected. to make a strong showing in the Conference Tournament, but sometimes that's the position to be in. We can take the Conference by storm!" added Payne.

The next week will test the resolve of the Lady Jays, with home games on Wed, Oct. 17 against Gettysburg and Sat, Oct. 20 against returning conference champs Franklin & Marshall.

Payne has confidence that the team will finish strong in these last few games leading to the championships:

"We have a lot of weapons, and no one is ready for them. We control our own fate in the conference; it is all up to us to get it done!