The Goucher women’s volleyball team opened conference play with a 3-2 loss to Susquehanna in Baltimore, Md. Goucher won the first two sets, 25-22 and 25-22, before Susquehanna took the final three, 25-17, 25-22 and 15-10.
Alex Dzhygit led Goucher with 10 kills and added 10 digs. Caroline Carter recorded nine kills and four service aces, while Sofia Ortiz finished with 18 assists and 10 digs. Grace Prusmack added 15 assists.
Goucher Takes a 2-0 Lead
Goucher overcame an early deficit in the opening set and pulled away behind kills from Carter, Dzhygit and Kelsi Hockaday. Susquehanna cut the margin to 23-22 late, but an attack error and a kill by Prusmack gave Goucher a 25-22 victory.
The second set remained close, reaching a 20-20 tie before Goucher scored two consecutive points to take a 22-20 lead. Goucher held on for another 25-22 win, with Carter recording the final kill. Blocks by AaShyah De Vries and Kanay Parham also contributed to the Goucher effort.
Susquehanna Wins Final Three Sets
Susquehanna built a 5-1 lead in the third set and extended the advantage to 11-3. Goucher received late kills from Dzhygit, Juliana Stoneberg and Hockaday, but Susquehanna held on for a 25-17 win.
Susquehanna carried the momentum into the fourth set by taking an early 7-3 lead. Goucher responded with a 12-10 advantage after blocks by De Vries and Parham, but the teams reached a 22-22 tie before Susquehanna scored the final three points to force a deciding set.
Goucher stayed within two points in the fifth set after kills from Dzhygit and Parham and another block from De Vries and Parham. Susquehanna led 12-8 before Goucher cut the deficit to 12-10, but Susquehanna scored the final three points to win the set 15-10 and the match 3-2.
Match Statistics and Upcoming Schedule
Athena Savick led the match with 24 digs, while Dzhygit and Ortiz each recorded 10 digs for Goucher. De Vries and Parham each finished with four blocks. For Susquehanna, Natalia Baca recorded 17 kills, Addison Dodge had six blocks and Abby Madigan totaled 17 digs.
Susquehanna led Goucher in hitting percentage, .128 to .062, blocks, seven to four, and service aces, 13 to six. Goucher led in digs, 75-70. Goucher is listed at 6-8 overall and 0-1 in conference play, while Susquehanna is listed at 3-7 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
Goucher is scheduled to host Elizabethtown and Central Penn College in a home tri-match. The Elizabethtown match is the Eliza Grover Memorial Match and is scheduled for 1 p.m., followed by Goucher’s match against Central Penn College at 5 p.m.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Goucher demonstrated early control by winning the opening two sets, but Susquehanna responded by taking the final three. The five-set result gives Goucher a 0-1 conference record as it prepares to host Elizabethtown and Central Penn College.
Source: Original report
