FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – After dropping the opening frame, the Salisbury University volleyball team nabbed three consecutive sets to overcome the 22nd-ranked Mary Washington Eagles for the second time this season on Saturday afternoon at Ron Rosner Arena.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The conference foes split the opening 16 points to an 8-8 deadlock, which Salisbury followed by taking four of the next five and a 12-9 advantage in the opening set. Out of a timeout, the Eagles claimed three in a row and four of the following five to tie the set again, 13-13.
• Eleven points later, the score was held tight at 19-18 in favor of UMW. A three-point swing extended the Eagles' lead to 22-18. Salisbury responded with a late push, bringing the margin to one at 23-22, but Jordan Lyons and Emma Hadley denied a Salisbury attack to seal the first set for Mary Washington at 25-22.
• Salisbury fired off the blocks in the second set, leading 6-1 in the early going. The sides alternated wins over the next eight points, but a three-point run for the Sea Gulls gave them a 12-6 advantage.
• The Sea Gulls kept the Eagles at arm's length, holding the margin to six throughout the set and playing to a 19-13 line. The Eagles took the next point, but Salisbury snapped off five straight, punctuated by a Kiley McTaggart kill, to clinch the second set, 25-14.
• The third set was a heavily contested one as the teams tied at 17-17 with 34 points played. After a three-point sprint for the Eagles, Salisbury controlled the conclusion of the fixture and Emma Quandt collected a putaway to close the third set, 25-23.
• Another close set ensued in the fourth. With the Eagles leading 14-13, Salisbury unloaded four consecutive scores and took six of the next seven points to lead 19-15. UMW managed a three-point swing before the Sea Gulls clamped down, with a Gwen Eustace kill slamming the door on a 25-22 set victory in the fourth.

SALISBURY GAME NOTES

• Gwen Eustace posted a team-high 14 kills, swinging a crisp .435 on the afternoon.
• Jackie Mitchell collected a double-double in the victory, finishing with 11 kills and 13 digs while tacking on three assists.
• Kiley McTaggart tallied 10 kills with three digs.
• Emma Quandt ripped off six kills on a .375 hitting night.
• Julie Altieri piled up career-highs in assists (41) and digs (16) in a strong effort for the Sea Gulls.
• Grace Rail finished with a team-high 33 digs.
• Natalie Uibel totaled 17 digs and seven kills.
• The Sea Gulls hit .180 as a team for the match, including an impressive .406 clip in the second set.
• Salisbury has now dealt Mary Washington its only two defeats of the season. The Sea Gulls beat the Eagles in five sets at Maggs Gym on Sept. 30.

MARY WASHINGTON GAME NOTES

• Caitlyn Burch led the Eagles with 12 kills in the match.
• Lauren Foley collected 24 assists to pace the hosts.
• Hannah Livermon led the defensive effort with 31 digs for UMW.

UP NEXT

• The Sea Gulls will play their final regular season home contests next Saturday in a tri-match against 10th-ranked New York University and Christopher Newport.
• Salisbury will face NYU inside Maggs Physical Activities Center at 11 a.m. and CNU at 3:30 p.m., with the NYU-CNU match at 1 p.m.
• SU will hold Senior Day recognition for its two graduating seniors – setters Ella Skye Franks and Brooke Young – before the CNU game.

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Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with the New Jersey Athletic Conference for football and men's and women's swimming, and the Coastal Lacrosse Conference for men's lacrosse. With over 500 student-athletes in 21 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have celebrated 23 team national championships, 24 individual national champions, 196 conference championships, and 45 Academic All-Americans.

To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit www.SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.