WENHAM, Mass.—Gordon Women's Volleyball wrapped up a 20-win season in comeback fashion with a 3-1 victory over local rival Salem State. The Vikings took a close first set, but the Scots rolled through the second and third sets to take control of the match. The hosts survived another tough fourth set and won 23-25, 25-12, 25-13, 25-23 in front of 150 at the Bennett Center on Thursday.
The Viking were able to take advantage of a slow start by Gordon and opened an 8-3 lead in the early going. Attack errors plagued the Scots early, but senior Emily Peay (Lebanon, Conn.) also did her part in helping the Vikings take the early advantage.
Gordon methodically closed the gap and eventually took a 19-18 lead with only a few points to play. The Vikings battled right back with a 4-0 run of their own and Gordon was never able to fully recover in the 25-23 loss.
The opening set defeat kick started the Scots offense into gear, as Gordon outscored Salem State 50-25 over the next two sets. Jenna Labbadia (Berlin, Conn.) and Mackenzie Hinds (Higganum, Conn.) led Gordon's attack, while Meghan Hokanson (Coon Rapids, Minn.) stepped up her blocking in the middle of the front line.
Salem State raced out to a 16-11 lead in the fourth set only to have Gordon chip away with a 7-1 streak. Gordon's lead was short lived and Salem State built up a 23-21 lead with a chance to force the hosts into a tiebreaking set. A timeout refocused the Plaid and Gordon won the final four points to end the match effectively, 3-1.
Peay led the Vikings with nine kills and 13 digs. She also notched four total blocks with two solo and two assists. Allison Vellucci (Northville, Mich.) added eight kills and a team-high three service aces. Freshman Mackenzie Salls (Turners Falls, Mass.) set up 25 kills on the evening.
Gordon's attack was mainly distributed between Hinds, Labbadia and Carleigh Petersen (North Hills, Calif.). Renee Cooprider (Hopkinton, Mass.) and Sidney Eisler (Stockton, Calif.) split setting duties and had 29 combined assists. Maggie Risma (Hudson, Ohio) and Kristen Cooprider (Hopkinton, Mass.) both had double-digit digs with 14 and 13 respectively. Hokanson had three solo blocks for the Scots.
The Fighting Scots await their opponent in the semifinals of the Commonwealth Coast Conference tournament, which begins on Tuesday. Gordon will host the winner of a first round matchup
