WENHAM, Mass.—Gordon Volleyball continued its upstart tear through the Commonwealth Coast Conference by beating local rival Endicott in four sets. The Fighting Scots beat the Gulls for the first time since the 2007, the third time they have done that against a conference opponent this year.
Endicott falls to 15-8 and 2-2 in the CCC, while Gordon improves to 13-8 and 4-2.
The Fighting Scots played with the lead for a majority of the four-setter, but the struggled directly out of the gate. Endicott's front line imposed their will on the Fighting Scots in the early stages of the first set by storming out to an 18-11 lead.
Gordon methodically chipped away at the Endicott led until they finally took a 22-21 lead and forced the visitors into a streak-breaking timeout. The two teams traded points back and forth to knot up at 25 apiece, but an Endicott error and an ace for Krystal Vander Ark (Santa Barbara, Calif.) sent Gordon to a 27-25 win.
The Scots put together two big runs in the second set to grab a 25-18 win and set up a possible sweep in the third.
The Gulls had different ideas however, controlling the third set after an initial run by the Scots. Five consecutive kills in the middle of the set broke open a 12-12 tie and Endicott never looked back for the remainder of the frame with a 25-17 win.
Gordon looked sharp in the fourth set and built up a 16-8 advantage. Endicott was able to refocus following a timeout and won 12 of the next 18 points to pull within two at 22-20. A pair of kills from Carleigh Petersen (North Hills, Calif.) and Mackenzie Hinds (Higganum, Conn.) pushed the Scots through the tough stretch and gave them the statement win.
Lexi Watts ( Rancho Bernardo, Calif.) and Hayley Knapp (Valencia, Calif.) was the stars of the Endicott attack with 11 and 13 kills respectively. Knapp also contributed four total blocks and a service ace. Alleigh VandeMerkt (Riverside, Ill.) led all players with 36 assists as Endicott outpaced the Scots in kills 46-38. The Gulls defense was busy all night too, as Tori McIntyre (San Diego, Calif.), Lilly Benabou (Medway, Mass.) and Cydney Pierce (Carpinteria, Calif.) all had at least 20 digs, with Pierce leading the way at 23.
Junior libero Maggie Risma (Hudson, Ohio) had her most impressive match in a Gordon uniform. She broke the Gordon single-match record for digs with 44, besting her career high by 10. Renee Cooprider (Hopkinton, Mass.) played well with 30 assists, while also putting up 14 digs.
The Scots flaunted a well-spread attack with Hinds being the only player in double-digits with 14. Petersen and Jenna Labbadia (Berlin, Conn.) both had at least seven. Labbadia also had three solo blocks and four block assists during the match.
Gordon heads to Daniel Webster on Saturday for a tri-match with Southern Vermont and the Eagles. Endicott hosts Coast Guard on Friday evening at 6 p.m.
