The Garrett College Lady Lakers finished the women’s volleyball regular season with a 9-7 record and earned a postseason berth after splitting a tri-match in Baltimore. Garrett College swept host Baltimore City Community College, 25-8, 25-21, 25-9, before Howard CC won a five-set match, 25-20, 23-25, 25-21, 22-25, 16-14.
Garrett College Lady Lakers Earn Third Consecutive Postseason Berth
The result capped Beth Campbell’s first season as Garrett College’s head coach. The Lady Lakers won eight of their final 11 matches and will compete in the postseason for the third consecutive year.
Garrett College carried eight freshmen on an 11-player roster. Campbell credited sophomores Mia Barrios, Serenity Parker and April Etheridge with helping the younger players adjust.
“They really had a great year,” said Campbell. “Our three sophomores [Mia Barrios, Serenity Parker, and April Etheridge] were great at bringing the freshmen in, taking them under their wings and getting them acclimated to being here.”
Campbell also said a two-week preseason on campus helped the freshmen build connections before the fall semester started.
“That allowed them to bond,” said Campbell. “They spent a lot of time together during those two weeks when it was only soccer and volleyball players on campus.”
Lady Lakers Post Strong Individual Numbers
Kyla Gilbert led Garrett College against Baltimore City Community College with 11 kills and four aces. Keyla Holloway-Powers added 13 aces and three kills, while Mia Barrios recorded five kills and four aces.
Gilbert produced 26 kills, 27 digs, four assists and one ace against Howard CC. Barrios finished with 33 digs, 14 kills, five assists and four aces, while Teyla Holloway-Powers recorded 43 assists, 16 digs and four kills.
Isabella Keneally added 23 digs, Serenity Parker had 18 digs, and Olivia Bartlett and April Etheridge each recorded six kills in the Howard CC match.
Garrett College Falls in Five-Set Match
Howard CC and Garrett College traded sets throughout the second match. After five sets and 216 points, only six points separated the teams.
“That’s the seven and eight seeds playing each other – and that’s how tight those two teams were,” Campbell observed.
The Lady Lakers had a home NJCAA Division II Region 20 play-in match tentatively set for the following Tuesday night.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
The Garrett College Lady Lakers closed the regular season with a 9-7 record, eight wins in their final 11 matches and another postseason appearance. The sweep of Baltimore City Community College secured the winning season, while the five-set loss to Howard CC showed how closely matched the teams were.
“We’re super-excited about making the playoffs,” said Campbell.
Source: Original report
