LYNCHBURG, Va. (BC Athletics) – Bridgewater College women’s volleyball fell short to (RV) Lynchburg in a four-set battle on the road.
Score: (RV) Lynchburg (UL) 3, Bridgewater (BCE) 1
Records: BCE (8-4 OVR, 1-1 ODAC), UL (12-1 OVR, 2-0 ODAC)
How It Happened
• The four-set match against an ODAC foe and the receiving national votes squad, Lynchburg had the answer to anything that Bridgewater directed at it. From the very beginning, UL sparked a four-run scoring rally in the opening set along with two additional offensive surges to ring the score up to a 12-2 deficit for BCE. The Hornets stayed strong and pressed on the gas the whole way while never dropping the lead to make it 25-19 Lynchburg for set one.
• The Eagles quickly tried to get ahead of any scoring momentum runs by the Hornets as BCE capitalized on early mistakes from the opponent. However, UL did not go away easily and efficiently waited for the right moment to pounce. The Eagles managed to soften the blows and returned with some powerful punches. Gabby Atwell ignited a four-point scoring run to lift the lead to 13-9. The Hornets soon after, dwindled the deficit down and knotted the score up at 17 apiece. Then, UL rumbled to a set-shifting five-point run and closed out the second set with a 25-21 score.
• The action soon packed the fourth set. Back-and-forth plays carried throughout the match and especially into the third set. Although BCE played chase to start out the set, the momentum soon shifted back to the Crimson & Gold athletes. Down at 19-17, the Eagles lasered in on a crucial five-point rally led by kills from Agnes Alford and Maya Veselinovic. Faith DePew gave the Eagles some fire with a rocketing attack to take the third set at 25-23.
• Even though a strong 3-0 run began the fourth set for the Eagles, the Hornets had something in return. Claire Griffith helped give the Eagles some remaining energy, getting a piece of one to nail one of her 11 kills on the night, extending the lead to 9-3. For much of the first half of the fourth set, the Eagles reduced their attack errors and converted effective plays off set pieces. However, UL was not done yet and it came back with force. The Hornets tied it up at 12 apiece with the help of a six-point scoring burst. They then went ahead to capture their first lead of the set, and they never lost it again. Another four-point run put things in focus for the ODAC opponent and Lynchburg went on win, taking the fourth set, 25-19.
Match Notes
• Although Bridgewater fought hard in all sets, the Eagles faced some struggling offensive firepower as they recorded 23 attack errors to Lynchburg’s 21.
• Junior Claire Griffith outpaced the Bridgewater attackers with a team-high of 11 kills.
• Sophomore Lindsay Kelley collected a solid stat line with 16 assists and 11 digs.
Up Next
The Eagles are back in action tomorrow, Sept. 20, to face Randolph for another ODAC matchup. First serve is scheduled for 11 a.m.
— BC Athletics —
