NEWPORT, R.I.—The Gordon Volleyball team gave third-seeded Salve Regina a run for their money in the opening round of the Commonwealt Coast Conference tournament, but the Scots dropped the final two sets in a 3-1 loss to the Seahawks. The Fighting Scots conclude their 2014 campaign at 14-14 overall, their best mark in three seasons. Salve Regina moves on to the semifinals where they will meet up with Western New England on Thursday evening in Springfield.
The Fighting Scots donned the underdog role early in the match, surprising the favorited Seahawks by rallying from a four-point deficit to take a 14-13 lead and forcing Salve Regina into a much-needed timeout. Laura Schmidt (Stuart, Fla.) and Joy Kimmel (Madison, Conn.) found a connection during the run, combining for three points during the comeback. The Salve timeout refocused the hosts, who used a 7-0 run directly following the stoppage in play to take a 20-14 lead over the Fighting Scots. Once again Gordon battled back with a 5-1 run of its own to bring the Scots within two points of the Seahawks. Salve and Gordon went back and forth for the remainder of the set, as the hosts took a 25-22 win in the first frame.
Gordon put together one of its best games of the season in the second, never trailing en route to a 25-18 win to knot the score at one set apiece. The Scots managed a first stretch of the set with limited errors, finishing off eight kills to only three errors as they built up a 12-6 lead over the hosts. Salve had a run to bring themselves back within two points at 16-14, but Gordon ran away with the game down the stretch. The set marked the first time Gordon had taken a game from the Seahawks since defeating their CCC rival 3-0 in 2008.
Salve Regina regained its composure in the third set leading by as many as 11 points in the game despite a series of short runs by the Scots. The Seahawks completed a 25-14 win to put the Fighting Scots back in a one-set hole. Gordon trailed by five points late in the set before coming back to tie the game at 19 all with a flurry of strong attacks. A pair of two-point runs brought the tie to 21 points aside and bring the Scots within four points of sending the match to a fifth set. The Seahawks found its groove up front to take the final four points with three kills and a block, ultimately sealing the match at 25-21.
Sophomore Jenna Labbadia (Berlin, Conn.) led all Gordon scorers with 10.5 points thanks to six kills and a team-high three solo blocks. Faith Gerdes (Wall Lake, Iowa) had seven kills and a block, while junior captain Jessica Burdick (Brewerton, N.Y.) had eight kills for the Scots. Schmidt's early attacks had her finish with a team-high nine kills on the evening. Kimmel dished out 22 assists and talented libero Maggie Risma had a game-high 24 digs.
