EMORY, Va. – The Bridgewater College Volleyball Team (11-11, 4-3 ODAC) picked up a vital 3-2 win in Old Dominion Athletic Conference play over Emory & Henry College (12-7, 4-4 ODAC) Friday evening at the King Center. The Eagles won the match by scores of 25-18, 22-25, 25-14, 23-25 and 15-12.
Bridgewater got out to a 6-2 lead in the first set and never let Emory & Henry get any closer than two points the entire way. The Eagles reeled off five straight points late in the set to go up 20-12 and pushed through to win 25-18.
The Eagles seemed to be on their way to a quick victory, rushing out to a 7-0 advantage in the second and would lead by as much as 10 (15-5). Emory & Henry bounced back, outscoring Bridgewater by a 20-7 margin the rest of the way to steal the second set and tie the contest at one.
After the intermission, Bridgewater regained control of the contest. With the score 4-4, the Eagles put up four straight points to lead 10-4 and ended the set on a 8-2 run, winning 25-14, to make the set score 2-1.
The Wasps were able to battle back again in the fourth set. After the two sides kept pace with one another early on, Emory & Henry was able to gain the advantage. E&H led 22-16 and looked prepared for the fifth set, but BC stormed back into the contest to lead 23-22. Three straight kills in response gave E&H the 25-23 win, and forced the deciding set.
The fifth set had all the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster featuring six ties and four lead changes. Emory & Henry got out to a 5-1 lead and seemed to have the momentum but Bridgewater notched eight of the next 12 points to tie the score 9-9. The Wasps had a 12-11 lead, but the Eagles were able to score four straight to take the set and the match.
Bridgewater was led by Mara Hogan, who led her team with 17 kills and 19 digs while Bethany Doman registered 11 kills and 11 digs of her own. Lindsay Kallam posted a third double-double for the Eagles with 48 assists and 10 digs while Katie Baker had nine kills and nine blocks on the night. Casey O'Leary recorded 17 digs as well.
Junior outside hitter Jamie Cockerham (Galax, Va.) led the Emory & Henry offense with 17 kills and completed the double-double with 10 digs. Sophomore setter Fallon Davis (Mooresville, N.C.) had a team-high 29 assists while seniors Sam Lucado (Salem, Va.) and Selena Trichel (Hilton Head, S.C.) registered 22 and 12 digs, respectively.
Emory & Henry will travel to Athens, W.Va. on Tuesday to face both Concord University and Virginia Intermont College in a tri-match. The Wasps are set to take the court for their first match at 5:00 p.m.
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