Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
WENHAM, Mass. – The Gordon Volleyball team fared well during their first day of competition, defeating the University of St. Joseph (Conn.) and Husson University (Maine) in back-to-back matches on Saturday morning during the Gordon Invitational. The Fighting Scots took both matches 3-1 leading to their first 2-0 start since the 2011 fall season.
 
In game one, the Fighting Scots had all they could handle with the St. Joseph Bluejays . Gordon took the first set quickly, 25-16, but struggled to keep consistent offense in the second game. St. Joseph's Ciara Perez was relentless in her attack in game two and proved to be the difference maker for the Jays as they took the game 21-25.
 
The Fighting Scots found their footing again in the third stanza, cruising past the Jays (0-3) with a 25-15 to set up a chance at clinching in the fourth set.
 
Nothing would be easy for the Scots in the final set as the Jays crawled back from an early deficit to make things close toward the end of the game. Gordon was able to take the last two points, including a well-executed block by Jenna Labbadia to officially end the contest.
 
In game two, Gordon matched wits with visiting Husson University out of the North Atlantic Conference. The Scots won the first two games handily, but the Eagles (0-3) fought back in the third set.
 
Casey Lopes pulled the Eagles' under her wing as Husson dominated the Fighting Scots from the moment of the first serve in the fourth set. They took the game 25-14 to make the match score 2-1 in Gordon's favor.
 
Gordon was able to end the matchup one game later with a 25-12 victory over the Eagles to improve to 2-0 on the season.
 
Junior Joy Kimmel and senior Lauren Kranyak continued where they left off from the end of the 2012 by pacing the Gordon offense. Kimmel put up 43 assists on the afternoon, while Kranyak had a whopping 35 points and 27 kills in two matches.
 
Newcomers Labbadia and Maggie Risma started both contests as freshmen and looked comfortable from the moment they took the floor. Risma—Gordon's libero—was tasked with barking out orders and controlling the positioning of her teammates, despite only having two weeks of practice time with the squad.
 
Shaylyn Roach and Labbadia finished tied for second on the team in scoring with 11 total points each.
 
The Scots return to the court on Tuesday when the travel to Worcester to take on Becker College at 7:00 p.m.