WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College women's volleyball team (0-1) was upended in its season opener by the visiting Muskingum Fighting Muskies (1-0) in a 3-0 verdict (25-13, 25-13, 25-23).
Cali Dagen (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) led the Presidents in kills with six on the night followed by
Rian Benz (Strongsville, Ohio/Holy Name) with five kills.
Abby Oldham (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) and
Lola Jacobs (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) each had four kills.
Isabella Bottiglieri (Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin) headed the Presidents in assists with 11 followed by
Brielle Moorhouse (East Liberty, Ohio/Benjamin Logan) with nine.
Sydney Allen (Washington, Pa./Trinity) led the team in digs with 19.
Despite opening the first set down 6-2, the Presidents worked back to their first lead of the contest, 7-6. The Fighting Muskies managed to build an 18-11 lead before a kill by Benz paused the run. A kill by Dagen capped the scoring of the first set for W&J, 25-13.
Muskingum used the momentum gained from the first set victory into the second, creating a 15-6 lead. Kills by Jacobs reduced the Fighting Muskies' lead to 16-9. Dagen contributed the last kill for the Presidents before falling to the same verdict in the second set, 25-13.
The Presidents flipped the script on the Fighting Muskies to open the third set with a 7-4 lead. Benz's two kills helped fend off Muskingum from going on a run before the opposition created its first lead of the third set off a five-point swing, 13-11. A kill by Oldham and attack errors by Muskingum helped W&J regain the lead. Two- and three-point swings between both sides left the Presidents with a 21-20 lead. Freshman
Eva McKnight (East Liverpool, Ohio/Beaver) and sophomore
Stella Stossel (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) each added a kill down the stretch. With aid from attack errors by the Fighting Muskies the Red & Black managed to knot the set score at 23-23. Two kills from Muskingum closed the door on a fourth set which would have kept W&J alive, 25-23.
W&J returns to action for the inaugural Vicki Staton Memorial Tournament held in the Salvitti Family Gymnasium on Friday (Sept. 4). Additional information about the tournament can be found on the
Vicki Staton Memorial Tournament Page.
