Philadelphia, PA - (10/20/10) – Feeding off an exuberant home crowd, Chestnut Hill College would not go quietly in this evening's Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) match with Philadelphia University. The Lady Rams won the match 3-1 (25-16, 23-25, 25-14, 26-24), but the Griffins nearly forced a deciding set with a united team effort.
Freshman outside hitter Leanna Lillge (Ixonia, WI) hammered six kills in the opening set to power Philadelphia University (14-6, 12-2) to a 25-16 win. Chestnut Hill College (4-19, 1-11) responded with quality play from a youthful frontline. Freshmen, middle hitter Mary Markowski (Parkton, MD) and outside hitter Kailey Arlen (Orland Park, IL) combined with sophomores, middle hitter Cassie Benson (Rosamond, CA) and right side Madelynn Ries (Antananarivo, Madagascar) for ten kills, a .300 (10K-2E-24TA) hitting percentage, and two assisted blocks. The result was a 25-23 win for the Griffins, evening the match at 1-1.
The Lady Rams went back on the offensive in the third set, winning the frame 25-14 behind four kills apiece from Lillge and sophomore middle hitter Ellie Edgar (Cuyahoga Falls, OH), 2-1. The fourth set concluded the match, 3-1, but revealed the heart of the home team. The Griffins quickly doubled the Lady Rams with an early 10-5 advantage. Philadelphia University responded with an 8-2 run forcing the Griffins into a timeout, down 13-12. As the tension rose in Sorgenti Arena so did the volume of the home crowd, and the determination of the home team. The Griffins charged back to a 19-15 lead before the Lady Rams knotted the contest at 21-21. In would knot again at 24-24, before the Lady Rams finally shut the door on the evening's last kill from junior middle hitter Julie Niblock (Sykesville, MD), 26-24.
Lillge led the Lady Rams with 17 kills, three aces, 16 digs, and two blocks. Edgar killed 12 balls and blocked six Griffin attacks. Setters, senior Lauren Hoover (New Baltimore, MD) and junior Adrienne Stigura (Reading, PA) combined for 48 assists, while sophomore outside hitter Danielle Carney (Thousand Oaks, CA) and freshman libero Brittany Olson (Sycamore, IL) helped Lillge on defense with a combined 29 digs.
Ries totaled eight kills and two blocks, Arlen scored six kills and two blocks, Markowski added six kills and a block, and Benson recorded five kills and five blocks, as the Griffin frontline teamed for 25 kills and 4.5 team blocks. Sophomores, libero Elisabeth DiGregorio (Conshohocken, PA) and defensive specialist Bobbie Chukuntarod (San Francisco, CA) anchored the Griffin defense with 28 and 14 digs, respectively, while setters, sophomore Courtney Gallo (Wilmington, DE) and freshman Allison Eberly (Orwigsburg, PA) combined for 20 assists.
The women's volleyball team travels to Post University on Saturday, October 23, for their next CACC match. Opening serve is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
