Box Score
By Ben Bovenzi Gomessiah.com Reporter
Elizabethtown, PA- The passionate, ongoing women's volleyball rivalry between Messiah and Elizabethtown now has another chapter for the history books. And what a chapter it is.
Messiah outlasted E-town 3-2 (25-22, 25-13, 22-25, 23-25, 15-13) in what proved to be the Falcons' most exhilarating five-game match of the 2011 season.
Taking the first two sets by outscoring E-town 50-35, the Falcons' momentum seemed unstoppable. However, the Blue Jays would bounce back in dramatic fashion, winning the next two games to set up a fifth and final set. Not only that, but the Blue Jays raced out to a 13-7 lead in the final game.
What happened next would put an exlamation point on this chapter of the rivalry between these two programs: Messiah would score eight straight points to win the match and hold onto first place (4-0) in the Commonwealth Conference.
“When we hit 11 (points in the fifth game) I knew we were going to win,” said Messiah head coach Judi Tobias. “You could see a change, a transformation in the girls. It was amazing.”
Before the comeback, it probably felt like old hat for Messiah coaches and players; the last six meetings between the Falcons and Blue Jays had resulted in four five-set losses and two three-set losses for Messiah. The difference this time around? It may have been senior Megan Wise, who served the final eight points for the Falcons (13-5, 4-0).
“Megan Wise was determined,” said Tobias. “She pulled everybody in after a timeout, in the fifth set when we were down, and she said, 'were going to win this, let's go.' And they did.”
The thrilling victory required some impressive play on the part of the Falcons, led by some usual suspects. Junior Lauren Rees, last week's Commonwealth POW, led Messiah with 21 kills and 27 digs while sophomore Jess Geib dished out 49 assists and 3 aces. Wise collected 24 digs for the Falcons.
Junior Barbara Fretz also had a big night, collecting 14 kills and 18 digs, while senior Emily Hall pounded 11 kills of her own. Sophomore Jordyn Scheib tallied six kills on a .462 kill percentage, with fellow sophomore Allison Hill making her presence known with 23 digs.
A true, total team effort to win on the Blue Jays' homecourt.
“Elizabethtown switched setters after the second game and we struggled to put the ball away. We couldn't get on a run,” noted Tobias, reflecting on how the tide turned to E-town's favor before the astonishing Falcons comeback. “They really did a nice job. Their record doesn't demonstrate their strength.”
Elizabethtown dropped to 4-13 on the season, including 1-3 in the Commonwealth.
Messiah will carry their first-place position into their next match against conference rival Arcadia.
“First in the MAC is a great place to be,” said Tobias. “This was one of our goals, and every step forward is another goal. It's one thing to be first, but another to hold onto it. We have to keep playing well.“
The Arcadia match will be played in Messiah's Brubaker Auditorium on Wednesday, October 12th, at 7:00 pm.
