McDaniel goes the distance to down Gettysburg, earns playoff spot
WESTMINSTER, Md. – Katie Seibel (Finksburg, Md./Westminster) recorded a team-high 18 kills to lead McDaniel to a 3-2 victory over Gettysburg in Centennial Conference (CC) volleyball action on Wednesday.
For the third straight season, the Bullets (15-11, 5-3 CC) and Green Terror (14-6, 7-0 CC) have gone the full five games with each team winning on its home floor. The 2007 edition of the rivalry lived up to its billing and allowed McDaniel to become the first CC team to clinch a spot in the upcoming conference playoffs. As the only undefeated team in the conference at 7-0, the Green Terror controls its own destiny and can earn the top spot with wins in each of its final three matches.
Katie Heffner led Gettysburg with match highs of 19 kills and 27 digs.
After McDaniel took the first two games 30-26 and 30-14, respectively, the Bullets fought back with a 34-32 win in game three and a 30-20 victory in game four to force the deciding game.
Knotted at 2 in game five, Sara Hanlon (Frederick, Md./Gov. Thomas Johnson) put down back-to-back kills to give the Green Terror a 4-2 edge before stretching the advantage to 6-2 and forcing a Gettysburg timeout.
The Bullets notched three of the next five points out of the timeout to pull within 8-5 and force a McDaniel timeout.
Errors on the next four points gave McDaniel a 10-7 advantage before Molly Barrett knocked down one of her nine kills and Amanda Krampf had her lone ace of the match to pull the visitors within 10-9.
Clinging to a 12-11 advantage, Seibel put down back-to-back kills before Heffner and Seibel exchanged knock downs, giving McDaniel the 15-12 victory.
Tied at 13 in game one, Kristie Fourcade (Ijamsville, Md./St. Johns at Prospect Hall) served six straight points, including one of her four aces to give the Green Terror an 18-13 lead and force a Bullet timeout.
The Bullets got as close as 25-22 but McDaniel held the visitors off for the four-point win.
In game two, Lehr and Fourcade each served no fewer than six straight points at different points in the game to help the Green Terror win going away.
With her team trailing 24-21 and facing elimination late in game three, Barrett used the aid of two Heffner kills to serve seven straight points and put Gettysburg on top 28-24 en route to the 34-32 victory.
In game four, Heffner turned a 6-all deadlock into an 11-6 Bullet advantage with five straight service points en route to the 10-point win and forcing a fifth game.
Kristen Nuckles (Suffolk, Va./Nansemond-Suffolk Academy) contributed 34 assists to the offense and 13 digs to the defense while Fourcade had 14 digs and 16 assists to go with her four aces.
Lehr and Alice Hardwick (Poolesville, Md./Poolesville) each had 24 digs while Caroline Rushe (Dover, Del./Dover) rounded out five Green Terror players in double-figure digs with 11.
Taylor Herrgott (Derwood, Md./Magruder) and Lanni Reisinger (Lemoyne, Pa./Cedar Cliff) added four total blocks apiece and 15 and 14 kills, respectively,
Krampf had 58 set assists and 23 digs for Gettysburg. Makenna Sigai added 18 digs while Katie Potochney (14) and Kristina Mercier (10) were also in double digits for digs. Mercier rounded out a double-double with 12 kills.
McDaniel returns to action at Washington (Md.) on Wednesday. Match time is 1 p.m.
McDaniel def. Gettysburg, 3-2 (30-26, 30-14, 32-34, 20-30, 15-12)
McDaniel Leaders:
Kills: Katie Seibel 18, Taylor Herrgott 15, Lanni Reisinger 14; Assists: Kristen Nuckles 34, Kristie Fourcade 16; Service Aces: Fourcade 4; Digs: Alice Hardwick 24, Deanne Lehr 24, Fourcade 14, Nuckles 13, Caroline Rushe 11; Blocks: Herrgott 4, Reisinger 4, Sara Hanlon 3.
Gettysburg Leaders:
Kills: Katie Heffner 19, Kate Yoder 16, Kristina Mercier 12, Meghan McConville 10; Assists: Amanda Krampf 58; Service Aces: Krampf 1, Yoder 1, Molly Barrett 1; Digs: Heffner 27, Krampf 23, Mekenna Sigai 18, Katie Potochney 14, Kristina Mercier 10; Blocks: McConville 6, Barrett 6, Mercier 5.
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