LEXINGTON – The Washington and Lee volleyball team split a pair of games in day two of the W&L Invitational. The Generals opened play on Saturday taking down Southern Virginia in five sets, 3-2 before falling to Gettysburg College in the last match of the invitational, 3-2.
The Generals started hot out of the gates with a 25-18 set one victory over Southern Virginia but the Knights would answer back quickly with a 25-20 set two victory.
Tied at one set a piece going into the pivotal set three, the Blue and White would hop out to a 7-2 lead. Despite SVU clawing their way back within reach late within three points of the hosts, 23-20, W&L pushed through to take the set 25-20.
The Generals owned a 22-20 advantage late in the fourth set but Southern Virginia came out of a time out strong and answered back 25-23, forcing a fifth set.
Coach Bryan Snyder rallied the squad during the intermission and Washington and Lee took a 15-9 set victory from the cross-town rivals, to secure the win
First year outside hitter Lillie Holcomb (Greensboro, N.C. / Western Guilford) led the Generals with 16 kills and three digs against the Knights. Senior setter Ashley Webb (Thousand Oaks, Calif. / Westlake) posted 22 assists and four kills in the match.
In the night-cap, after winning the opening set over Gettysburg, the Blue and White fell behind early in the second by six points, 8-2. A push by the Generals put them within five late in the set 22-17 but the Bullets pulled away at the end taking the set 25-19, ensuring the game would take no less than four sets.
The Bullets came from behind in set four and pushed the contest to five set a for the fourth time during the invitational for the Generals. GC posted a 25-19 victory to force the final
deciding set.
In set five, the Bullets earned the flip taking an early 8-6 advantage and marked the first time the Blue and White did not lead during the intermission of the final set. Gettysburg continued the momentum and secured a 15-8 win to close out the evening
The Generals will return to action Tuesday, September 13 in Holekamp to host a conference matchup against Roanoke College at 7 p.m.
All Tournament Team
Washington and Lee
Caroline Gard, SR, Libero
Sydney Heifner, JR, Outside Hitter
Southern Virginia
Courtney Pinkston SR
Emma Steiger, SR
Centre
Madi Brown, JR, Libero
Josie Grace Mudd, SR, Middle Blocker
Marymount
Natalie Garbalosa, SR, Right Side
Elissa Munsterman, SR, Libero
Gettysburg
Olivia Biggs, JR, Middle Hitter
Mary Hegel, FR, Middle Hitter
Guilford
Maddie Page, SO, Setter
Lydia Saunders, JR, Libero
