CARLISLE, Pa. - The Dickinson women's volleyball returned to their home court on Thursday night looking to snap a two-game slide against the visiting DeSales University. After the visitors rallied back to take the first set the Red and White showed true grit and determination in storming back to pick up a 3-1 non-conference win at the Kline Center.
Dickinson started the first strong taking a 6-2 lead with kills from
Alexa Barowski,
Sophia Denayer,
Emma Popham, and
Mathilde Verbitsky. After DeSales scored two straight the Devils opened things up with a 10-4 charge with scores by
Grace Coccagna,
Emma Lange, and Verbitsky along with six Bulldog miscues to open up a 16-8 cushion. Three of the next four also belonged to DC thanks to three more DSU errors making it 19-9. However, the combination of McKenzie Brady, Paige Lewis, Emma Notarfrancesco, Diane Pugay, and Abby Weise closed on a 17-5 rampage to grab the first 26-24.
The second saw the two sides share the opening ten points, before kills from Lange and Popham coupled with an ace for
Cassidy Davis made it 8-6 home side. Once again though the Bulldogs would show some bit with an 11-3 run with points from Mykenah Calder, Peyton Porterfield, Lewis, and Pugay to jump in front 17-11. Another Calder kill and three Devil mishits had the visitors feeling good up 21-15. Dickinson then showcased their grit answering back with a 7-0 run with points coming from
Ann Marie Patterson, Denayer, and Popham to reclaim a slim 22-21 edge. The Devils scored three of the final five points of the set as
Amelia Kim, Barowski, and Lange pounded home kills for the 25-23 win.
Shannon McDevitt, Madison Swift, and Weise helped DSU to claim a 4-2 lead to kickoff the third, before five consecutive 'Dogs errors had DC on top 7-4. A combination block by Kim and Lange followed by another Kim kill advanced the hosts advantage to 12-7. DeSales once again fought back as they strung together runs of 4-0, 3-0, and 5-0 with a score by Davis sprinkled to make it 19-14 DSU. A service error for Brady cut it to 20-17, but an immediate answer by Swift pushed the margin back to four. The Devils then seized control of the set as kills from Barowski, Davis, Kim, and Lange capped an 8-2 DC run to close out a 25-23 victory.
The fourth set was nip-and-tuck at the start as the teams exchanged the first ten points. A kill from Kim off the dish from
Jordan Schucker kicked off a 7-1 DC push as Denayer and Lange also contributed in making it 12-6. After DSU took four of the ensuing five points, an ace for Denayer as well as a kill by Lange extended the Red and White's cushion to 17-10. DeSales chipped away at the gap with kills by Lewis, Swift, and Weise closing the gap to 19-16. Dickinson put themselves three points from the match at 22-17 with a joint block between Barowski and Denayer, but DSU responded with a 7-2 charge to level the match 24-24. A kill by Lewis gave DSU set point. However, three straight points for Popham finished off the set and the match 27-25.
Bulldog Leaders
Kills - Weise (12), Swift (10)
Digs - Weise (18), Brady (16)
Assists - Porterfield (23)
Red Devil Leaders
Kills - Lange (10), Popham (9), Kim (7),
Digs - Patterson (18),
Camille Dofiles (14), Coccagna (13)
Assists - Dofiles (18), Schucker (14)
Next on the Court
Dickinson (3-2) hosts their first of three tri-matches on the season on Saturday when they host both Lebanon Valley and Penn State-Altoona. The Devils will battle the Dutchmen at 11 am, prior to facing the Lions at 3.
