WENHAM, Mass.—Gordon Women's Volleyball showed poise in the fifth set as the Fighting Scots fought off three match points to stage a wild comeback over Wentworth on Saturday. The Leopards came out fast to take the first two sets, but Gordon's offense awoke in the final three games to stay unbeaten in the Commonwealth Coast Conference, 15-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-21, 16-14.
The Fighting Scots' improbable rally brings them back to .500 at 7-7 and 2-0 in the CCC. Wentworth drops a match for just the second time in 13 matches and sits at 11-2 entering the dearth of the conference slate.
Wentworth owned the first set, nearly cover to cover. After the Fighting Scots scored the first point of the half, Wentworth won the race to 10 points at 10-5 before eventually using 8-0 run to take a 20-8 advantage. Gordon never fully recovered in the game and the Leopards were able to take it going away.
The second set was a grind for both squads, but Gordon clung to a 12-9 lead at the midway point, its largest advantage through a set and a half. Wentworth put a few small spurts together, including a four-point streak to take a 21-19 lead nearing the end of the set. Gordon rallied to knot it at 21, but the Leopards responded by winning four of the final five points in the set to go up 2-0 on the scoreboard.
The Fighting Scots controlled the entire third set, as the offense came out of the funk they were suffering from in the opening two games. Gordon led the entire way in the set, possessing as large as a seven-point edge in a 25-19 result.
A tight fourth set prevailed as Wentworth attempted to close out the Scots on their home court. Gordon held a slim 14-13 lead when the Scots won six consecutive points to go up by seven. Wentworth countered with a 4-0 run, but the Fighting Scots put enough points together down the stretch to win 25-21 and force a winner-take-all sprint to 15.
Neither team was able to pull away at the start of the fifth set, as service errors on both sides kept any momentum from shifting in one direction. However, five Gordon mistakes on the service line allowed the Leopards to go to the brink of victory at 14-11, forcing the Scots into a timeout.
Amanda Snyder (San Jose, Calif.) and
Mackenzie Hinds (Higganum, Conn.) connected on two kills to pull back within a point before a Wentworth error tied things at 14. The Fighting Scots got the Bennett Center rocking with another Hinds kill and an ace by
Kristen Cooprider (Hopkinton, Mass.) to end things in wild fashion.
For the Foes:
- Rookie Leah Rogoz (Woodridge, Ill.) played lights out for the Leopards with 14 kills and 13 digs.
- Classmate Claire Quick (Mission Viejo, Calif.) also had a strong showing with 11 kills to only four errors and 15 digs.
- Libero Lillie Clark (Vista, Calif.) led WIT with 18 digs
- The Leopards out-blocked Gordon 12-2 on the day.
For the Scots:
- Hinds led the Gordon attack with 16 kills and a .220 hitting percentage, her highest of the season to this point.
- Meghan Hokanson (Coon Rapids, Minn.) played nearly mistake-free volleyball with 14 kills and only two errors, while also assisting on a block.
- Carleigh Petersen (North Hills, Calif.) and Snyder both contributed double-digit kills with 12 and 11 respectively.
- Kristen Cooprider subbed into the libero spot in the third set and led the way with 18 digs on defense.
- Renee Cooprider (Hopkinton, Mass.) put up 50 assists for the Fighting Scots, her highest mark since the season opener against Framingham State.
What's Next?
Gordon heads to Dudley on Tuesday to take on first-year varsity member Nichols at 7 p.m. Wentworth will have a quick turnaround when they play host to Salve Regina at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
