The Shippensburg University volleyball team had a record of 2-1 this past week, with matches against Virginia Union University, Pitt-Johnstown University and Lock Haven University. The Red Raiders defeated Virginia Union in three sets on Wednesday night. The team then lost in three sets to Pitt-Johnstown on Friday. Finally, the team beat Lock Haven in four sets on Saturday night.
Wednesday, October 28th
The Red Raiders played amazingly on Wednesday night in the team’s match against Virginia Union. The Raiders had 14 different players contribute points on Wednesday, which allowed Shippensburg to win its sixth consecutive match and sweep Virginia Union in three sets.
Shippensburg had a hitting percentage of .222 in the first set Wednesday, while hitting .121 for the night. The Raiders combined for a total of 33 kills against Virginia Union to go along with 10 service aces and 10 team blocks.
Sophomore Shelby Henry led all players with 10 kills Wednesday on a team high 27 total attacks. Henry also had five digs to go along with two blocks. Henry also set new career highs in kill totals, hitting both percentage (.259) and block totals on Wednesday night.
Fellow sophomore Catherine Amoriello had a team-high 23 assists while serving a team high four aces on Wednesday. Those four aces were also a new career high for Amoriello.
Friday, October 30th
Unfortunately, the Red Raiders' six-game winning streak came to an end on Friday, when the team was swept in three sets by Pitt-Johnstown.
Pitt-Johnstown is currently the leader in the PSAC Eastern Division and the team sure looked like it on Friday. The Raiders were unable to find momentum against Johnstown and the team also struggled on offense due to the team’s inability to connect on passes.
Despite a slow start, the Raiders were able to make a comeback in the second set. However, Johnstown was able to make a late comeback and retake the lead to win the set.
Despite the team’s poor play collectively, a few players did stand out for the Raiders.
Junior Annie Goerl was just shy of a double-double with nine kills and 13 digs, while senior Taylor Gottshall converted five of her 14 attacks into kills to go along with four block assists.
Saturday, October 31st
The Raiders bounced back very well on Saturday in the team’s match against Lock Haven. The Raiders beat Lock Haven in four sets on Saturday, thanks once again to the team's great play on both ends of the floor.
The Raiders as a team had 59 kills, with four different players hitting double digit kills.
Freshman Morgan DeFloria had a .395 hitting percentage to go along with her team-high 16 kills on Saturday.
Gottshall continued her great play from the previous night with 15 kills and three block assists. Goerl finally got her double-double Saturday with 12 kills and 20 digs and senior Faith Athey hit 11 kills while also having three block assists.
The Raiders were able to limit Lock Haven to a hitting percentage of .070 during the third set. This is thanks in large part to senior Laura Plank and junior Maura Nolan. Plank led the Raiders with a team high 22 digs, while Nolan had 10 digs and a match-best 48 assists.
The Raiders hope this momentum follows them into their final home game of the season when the team plays Millersville University on Tuesday, November 3rd at 7:00 p.m. in Heiges Field House.
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