Box Score Despite a strong comeback by the Blue Streaks in sets two and three, the John Carroll volleyball team (5-17) dropped a five-set decision to the Allegheny Gators (11-7) on Thursday night.
After the Gators took the opening set 25-22, the Blue Streaks came back to win sets two and three with 25-14 and 25-18 scores. However, Allegheny bounced back in the fourth, upending the Blue Streaks to tie the match at two (25-23) and force a deciding set, which would end in favor of the Gators (15-9).
Allegheny came out strong in set one, holding a lead as high as eight (15-7). The Blue Streaks were able to chip away at the Gator lead to come within three (18-15), but Allegheny pulled through to make the match score 1-0.
John Carroll bounced back in set two. The Blue Streak squad led the entire set, thanks to the offense.
Sarah Calabrese led the way with five kills, while
Julianne McGervey followed with three. Lexie DeMatteis also added a pair.
The momentum remained with John Carroll in set three. Although Allegheny held the Blue Streaks to a smaller lead, John Carroll once again finished on top to take a 2-1 lead.
The Gators found a way to take back the momentum in the fourth set. Allegheny managed to hold a lead until the 21st point when a Gator error gave John Carroll their first lead of the set (21-20). Calabrese and McGervey were able to tack on two more kills, but the Gators won the five points they needed to make snag the set.
Allegheny opened with an 8-3 lead in the final set. John Carroll would then make a last-minute push to regain the lead, coming within striking distance of Allegheny (8-7) and force a Gator timeout. Calabrese continued to keep John Carroll in the match, tallying two more kills, but Allegheny ended the match with a 7-2 scoring run to secure the victory.
Calabrese finished the match setting new season-highs in three categories. The outside hitter notched new highs in kills (25), service aces (4), and total points (25). McGervey was also a key component of the Blue Streak offense, recording 12 kills over the five sets.
At the net, Thommie Jackson and DeMatteis led the team with three and two blocks, respectively.
On defense, Caitin Cianciolo notched 30 digs, just three shy of her season-high. She also set a new season-high in aces with two.
John Carroll will next host conference rival Marietta on Saturday, October 7 at 1 p.m.
