SALISBURY, Md. - The Salisbury
University volleyball team earned a hard-fought, five-set win
Thursday night against York (Pa.) College in the Capital Athletic
Conference tournament semifinals at Maggs Physical Activities
Center.
The battle began in the first set as the top-seeded Sea Gulls
stretched their lead to as much as 22-14 before the Spartans
(18-14) began chipping away. Fourth-seeded York would even the
first set at 24-24, before taking a 26-24 win.
Things remained close through the next two sets, but Salisbury
was able to pick up a pair of victories. The Sea Gulls (29-4)
claimed the second set 25-23, thanks to a late ace from senior
libero Gabby Long (Bel Air,
Md.) and a kill hammered home by senior middle hitter
Nicole Massarelli
(Clarksville, Md.), and then won the third set 25-22.
York led by as many as eight points in the fourth set, squaring
the match at two sets apiece with a comfortable victory, 25-19, but
the two-time defending CAC champion Sea Gulls were not done.
Salisbury took a 6-1 lead and stretched that to as much as 11-4 on
its way to a 15-6, match-clinching victory in the fifth set.
Salisbury was led by senior outside hitter Rachel Downes
(Salisbury, Md.) who finished with 14 kills and just
three errors, hitting .344 for the match. Freshman middle hitter
Chelsea Glowacki
(Poolesville, Md.), who was a force in the middle all
night, finished with 13 kills while junior outside hitter
Lexy
Fitzkee (Fallston, Md.) added 10 kills.
Massarelli finished with five assist blocks to lead Salisbury's
defensive play while Long was good for 19 digs. Sophomore setter
Lindsey Saltzman
(Penfield, N.Y.) had a career-high 30 assists, while
freshman Carley Todd (Centerport,
N.Y.) added 21.
The Sea Gulls will host the CAC tournament championship match
Saturday, Nov. 7 against No. 3 seed Gallaudet University, a 3-2
winner Thursday against No. 2 seed University of Mary Washington.
Salisbury has won the last two CAC titles, and five overall.
Saturday's start time is to be announced; check www.suseagulls.com on Friday for updates.
