SALISBURY, Md. - The Salisbury University
volleyball team defeated No. 22 Haverford College in a thrilling
3-2 (25-15, 12-25, 25-21, 25-27, 22-20) victory on the opening
night of the 2009 SU Volleyball Invitational in front of 150 people
at the Maggs Physical Activities Center.
The Sea Gulls (10-1) picked up the win in the tightly-contested
fifth and final game. After the Gulls fell behind 8-2, they were
able to even things up at 12-12. SU then scored the next two points
capped off by a kill by freshman Jenna Shay (Dunkirk,
Md.) to earn a match-point opportunity. The Fords (10-1)
would battle back to tie up the score. Haverford went on
for five consecutive match points but the Sea Gulls held
tough. With the Gulls down 20-19, senior outside hitter
Rachel Downes (Salisbury, Md.) delivered three
consecutive kills to help her team claim the match.
"When you beat a caliber team like Haverford, ranked in the
country, not just ranked but a team with super ball control, it
says a lot for our kids and how hard they have been working
together as a team.," said SU head coach Margie
Knight. "The most important thing was the gut check we
had, we were down 8-2 at one point in the fifth game and came
back and played one point at a time which has been our philosophy
this year. To gel as a team, we have a large group, 17 women that
came together and played so tough. I am really proud of our girls
in defeating a terrific program like Haverford tonight."
The Sea Gulls were led by Downes in the match who finished with
20 kills and 12 digs. Senior libero Gabby Long (Bel Air,
Md.) finished the match with 32 digs, three assists and a
kill. Junior outside hitter Lexy Fitzkee (Fallston,
Md.) added 15 digs, 11 kills and a team-high two service
aces. SU setters Lindsey Saltzman (Penfield, N.Y.)
(10 digs) and Carly Todd (Centerport, N.Y.)
finished with 29 and 24 assists, respectively.
In the first match of the day the Sea Gulls defeated Richard
Stockton College 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-15). The maroon and gold was
led by Downes (eight kills, 16 digs) and freshman middle hitter
Chelsea Glowacki (Poolesville, Md.) (eight kills,
three blocks). Outside hitters Melissa Stansbury
(Eldersburg, Md.) and Kelly Williams (Laurel,
Md.) each finished with seven kills and 10 and six digs,
respectively.
The Sea Gulls will be back in action at noon
Saturday with a match against Allegheny College. The Gulls
will then square off against Baldwin-Wallace College at 2 p.m. to
close out the 2009 SU Volleyball Invitational.
In other day one action at the SU Invitational, Haverford
defeated Baldwin-Wallace 3-1 (25-14, 25-22, 20-25, 25-10).
Allegheny picked up a pair of victories with a 3-1 win over Richard
Stockton (25-20, 23-25, 25-20, 27-25) and 3-1 win against
Baldwin-Wallace (25-15, 25-17, 23-25, 25-17).
