Eagles Drop Pair of Matches at Wittenberg Invitational

SPRINGFIELD, OHIO- The Juniata women's volleyball team played two matches on the second day of competition at the Wittenberg Invitational. The Eagles fell 3-0 to both #3 Calvin and Heidelberg and drop to 6-4 overall on the season.

Against the Knights, Mar-Jana Phillips (Carson, Calif./Rolling Hills Prep) and Marybeth Weihbrecht (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) led the offense with nine kills. Kelly Reynolds (Upper Saint Clair, Pa./Upper Saint Clair) picked up 33 assists. She had eight digs as did Korin Koehler (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall). Koehler chipped in three service aces. Also on the defensive side, Nakita Gearhart (Waynesboro, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) tallied four assisted blocks. Phillips had three assisted blocks along with Glenn Brumm (Oro Valley, Ariz./Canyon Del Oro).

The first set was tight as both teams traded points. Juniata led by as much as 15-11 but Calvin's 7-1 run put the Knights ahead 18-16. The Eagles would tie the frame up at 18-18 and another 7-1 Calvin run put it up 24-20. JC got to 24-23 but Calvin would win on a kill from Tessa Van Laare to lead the match 1-0.

Calvin got out to a 7-3 lead in the second set. It increased the advantage to 11-5 but a JC rally cut the deficit to 15-14. A 5-1 Knight run upped the lead to 20-15. The Eagles got to 24-23 but a kill from Laura Danhoff was the winning point for the Knights.

Juniata led in the third frame 14-8. It still led 23-20 and looked to get back into the match but an 8-3 Calvin run was too much as it went to claim the set 28-26 and win the match.

In the Heidelberg match, the Student Princes got out to a 6-2 lead early on. An 8-4 Eagle run put Juniata up 10-8. The JC lead was 19-15 and it led as late as 23-21. Heidelberg rallied with four straight points to end the set and stun the Eagles 25-23.

Juniata had a 15-10 advantage in the second frame before the Student Princes ripped off an 8-0 run to go up 18-15. JC tied it at 18-all but Heidelberg outscored the Eagles down the stretch to take the second set 26-24.

The Student Princes took a big 14-6 lead in the third frame. Juniata was able to narrow the score to 14-12 and went ahead 19-18. JC held onto a 22-21 lead but Heidelberg scored four straight times to come away with the win.

Overall, Gearhart had 11 kills to lead Juniata. Weihbrecht added 10 kills. Gearhart also picked up two service aces and four block assists. Phillips added three block assists. Brumm totaled 10 digs.

Juniata will look to rebound next weekend when it begins Landmark Conference play. The Eagles play Susquehanna at 1:30 p.m. and conclude with host Scranton at 4:00 p.m.