GROVE CITY, Pa. – Despite earning a first set victory, the Washington & Jefferson College volleyball team fell in four sets to Grove City College in a Presidents' Athletic Conference match at the College Arena in Mercer County. 
 
Grove City 3, W&J 1 (21-25, 25-13, 25-19, 25-21)
 
W&J took the opening set by a 25-21 score despite getting off to a bit of a slow start. The Wolverines led for a good chunk of the first set before junior outside hitter Ashley Bertling (Berkley, Mich./Berkley) sparked a run by the Presidents. Trailing by a 15-13 margin, the Red and Black registered six straight points to take a 19-15 edge. 
 
A pair of kills by freshman right side Jaden Blough (Meyersdale, Pa./Meyersdale) coupled with a trio of service aces by Bertling combined to account for five points during the run. 
 
Grove City answered with a run of its own to regain the lead at 20-19. However, sophomore middle Lizzie Carmichael (Wyoming, Ohio/Wyoming) accounted for three kills late in the first set, including the set clinching point for W&J. 
 
The Wolverines responded in a big way in the second set, as the hosts accounted for 14 of the final 18 points to earn a 25-13 victory. Grove City recorded 13 kills and hit .300 in the second set. 
 
That strong play by the Wolverines continued into the third set, as the hosts recorded seven of the first eight points. W&J answered with six of the next seven points to cut the deficit to 8-7, which forced a Grove City timeout. Blough, Carmichael and sophomore outside hitter Gianna Platt (Pittsburgh, Pa./OLSH) registered a kill each during the run for W&J. A few points later, another kill by Platt evened the third set score at 9-9. 
 
Grove City regained control of the set with seven of the next eight points to take a 16-10. Three consecutive points, which included an ace by junior libero Sophia Sacripointe (Butler, Pa./Butler), brought W&J back within two (19-17). However, six of the next eight points were recorded by Grove City as they pulled away for the set win. 
 
The Wolverines built an early lead and stretched it to as many as six points on three occasions in the fourth. Three straight points by W&J, which included a kill by Platt, cut the deficit to 19-16 and forced a Grove City timeout. 
 
Carmichael finished with 10 kills and three total blocks. Blough tallied nine kills while Platt added a season-high seven kills in the setback. 
 
Senior setter Alexis Tomassini (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg) finished with 26 assists. Defensively, Sacriponte finished with a match-best 32 digs. 
 
W&J concludes its 2021 season at home against Saint Vincent on Saturday, Oct. 30. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tomassini and Ashley Kovel (Everett, Pa./Everett) will be honored prior to the match.