Shippensburg University volleyball had a very successful weekend at Heiges Field House with two wins against Kutztown University and East Stroudsburg University while celebrating their Senior Day.
Senior Gabriella Johnson recorded her 1,000th career kill on Friday against Kutztown to become the 11th in school history to achieve the feat and the eighth to have 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs. The crowd went wild with roars, and the players on the sidelines were jumping with excitement.
Senior Kendall Johnson got her 1,000th career kill on Saturday against East Stroudsburg to become the 12th Raider in history to make that accomplishment, after Gabriella Johnson the day before.
In Friday’s match against Kutztown, the Raiders had a bad start to the first set. Assistant coach Dan Labonte said after the first set that the women did not have a great warmup.
The Raiders woke up in the middle of the set and were able to come back and fight, but could not take the first set, losing 30-32.
The Raiders honored five seniors (from left to right): Samantha Webber, Faith Loehle, Kendall Johnson, Gabriella Johnson and Megan Forstburg.
The Raiders were ready to go after the first set and were able to win the next three sets and wrap up the match, 3-1. Each set, they limited errors and put the ball down sooner. The final match scores were 30-32, 25-21, 25-19, 25-14.
Gabriella Johnson not only recorded her 1,000th career kill but also recorded 20 kills, two aces and 19 digs in that game.
Saturday’s Senior Night game started off great for the Raiders as the momentum from the previous night’s win against Kutztown carried over.
The emotions ran high, as the game could have been the last time this group of seniors compete together on their home court.
The East Stroudsburg Warriors took the Raiders to 5 sets on Saturday, but Shippensburg was able to pull through and win the match 3-2. Senior Samantha Webber was on fire, recording 24 kills.
It was anyone’s game in the fifth set with the Raiders trailing 16-18. SU limited its errors and the team was consistently putting balls down to come out on top against ESU.
The final match scores were 25-21, 22-25, 25-19, 26-28 and 18-16. Shippensburg is now 13-1 in the PSAC.
The Raiders will compete next at Lock Haven University on Nov. 8.
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