Volleyball splits their weekend matches

By TARIQ OMER Staff Writer

This past weekend, the Hopkins women’s volleyball team participated in two competitive matches in Allentown, Pa.

The two matches had differing outcomes since the Lady Jays picked up a win against Muhlenberg College before being handed defeat by Stockton University in the following match in five sets.

The team now moves to 6-8 on the whole season. However, they remain 2-0 in Centennial Conference play courtesy of the Muhlenberg Mules, as head coach Tim Cole and the Jays remain undefeated in conference competition.

In the game against Muhlenberg, Hopkins took the first set with a score of 25-22. The set was tied at 7-7 before Hopkins took five straight points to take a commanding lead of 12-7. The set continued to go back and forth until the Mules eventually tied the set at 21 apiece. However, despite their comeback, the Mules lost four of the last five points in the set, and Hopkins was able to take the set via a kill by sophomore Elizabeth Wuerstle.

In the second set the score was close throughout, with the score being 24-22 Muhlenberg at one point.

From there Hopkins were able to score the last four points to clinch the set on a service ace from senior Ali Cox. The third set was more of the same, as Hopkins led Muhlenberg 14-12 midway through.

However, the Mules came back and won the set 25-23, with the crucial final point coming from a Hopkins service error. The fourth set was neck-in-neck throughout.

With the score tied at 19-19, the Jays scored four straight points and held the lead to win the set and clinch the game with the game-winning kill coming from junior Ally Hirsch.

In the match against Stockton, Hopkins started out strong with the Jays completely dominating the first set, winning 25-13 and taking a 1-0 advantage over the Stockton Ospreys. Hopkins took an early lead in the second set as well. However, Stockton fought back and came from behind to win the set 25-20 and tie the game up overall 1-1. The third match was very competitive, with both teams giving it their all until Hopkins eventually took the lead in the game 2-1 with a set win of 25-23.

The fourth set was fought with the same competitive spirit but with a different outcome, as it was Stockton this time who claimed the set 25-21 and once again tied the match at 2-2. The fifth and final set, however, was all Stockton. The Ospreys took a substantial 10-1 lead to start the match before Hopkins could battle back to close the gap to four points. However, the Ospreys never looked like losing the crucial set, as they closed it and the game out with a score of 15-11 and a set score of 3-2.

In box statistics, Cox,Wuerstle and sophomore Erica Johnston all had double-digit kills in the game versus Muhlenberg. Sophomore Kristi Rhead and senior Carolyn Zin combined for 48 assists in that win.

Wuerstle and Johnston rank among team leaders in kills with 171 and 118, respectively. Cox has the third most on the squad with 115, to go with 19 service aces.

The Jays have split up playing time pretty liberally, with each player seeing action in at least 30 of the 53 sets the Jays have plaed on the year.

In the win against Muhlenberg, the Jays had 14 service aces to the Mules’ one.

The Lady Jays are back in action Wednesday, hoping to remain undefeated in the Centennial Conference. The time is slated for 7 p.m. at Haverford College in Pennsylvania.