Women’s volleyball crushes competition at Haverford Invitational to open season 2-0

HAVERFORD, Pa. – Juniata College women's volleyball turned-up two 3-0 wins over Widener University and Swarthmore College Saturday at the Haverford Invitational in Calvin Gooding '84 Arena. 

In the first match of the day against the Pride, Juniata (2-0) silenced the competition with a 25-9 first set win. After that it was smooth sailing for the Eagles as they defeated Widener 25-13 and 25-14 in the next two sets.

Junior Courtney Lydick (McKena, Pa./General McLane) and Rachelle Wiegand (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) led the squad in kills with seven apiece, while sophomore Amelia Kepler (Kane, Pa./Kane Area) led in blocking with six and Lydick added five.

Kepler also led in serving in the day's first match with six service aces while junior setter Sarah McCarthy (Villa Park, Ill./Willowbrook) claimed four.

"Amelia had moments that she was playing very well today. She served well in today's first match and hit really well in match two. She was contributing in an enormous way throughout the entire day in different areas," said head coach Heather Pavlik of Kepler, who also led in kills against Swarthmore with nine terminations. 

Against Swarthmore, Juniata posted 25-22, 25-22 and 25-18 set victories to come away with the 3-0 win. 

Freshman Kristin Collins (Freedom, Pa./Ambridge) tied Kepler in kills with nine against Garnet, and Christine Sumner (Dublin, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) contributed seven terminations. 

Across the two matches, libero Brittani Young (Columbia, Pa./Helpfield Area) led in digs with a total of 37, McCarthy scooped-out twelve against Swarthmore and Wiegand combined for 16.

"Lydick took some good swings early in the day, and Fuller played the role that she always does for us, a little bit of everything. I think it was a good start to the season, and there were definitely some times that we looked very good and others that we looked sloppy, but that's what you can expect with this time of year. We are going to just have to try to continue getting better with each match, " Pavlik said about the day. 

Juniata will take on Frostburg State and Haverford in the invitational on Sunday, with the game against Frostburg slated for 12:00 p.m.

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