Gordon College Volleyball traveled to Amherst, Massachusetts today for a two-game invitational hosted by the Amherst College Mammoths. The Fighting Scots opened up the mini tournament against the home team where each team traded sets before the Mammoths locked in the five-set win, 3-2. In their second match up of the evening, the Scots faced the Raiders of Rivier where they ultimately fell, 0-3. Sophomore Annie Murphy lit up the court tonight for the Fighting Scots, leading her squad in both games for kills, first booking 14, then 11 against Rivier.

Game One

•  After tying it up at four, the Scots started to pull ahead (11-7) before the squads ping-ponged points until Amherst was able to regain the draw at 20-all before taking the 21-20 edge. However, the Fighting Scots quickly regained the advantage to take the first, 25-23. 
• The Scots jumped on top early in the second, 2-0 after back to back kills from Annie Murphy and Jordan Shaduk, however, Amherst battled back to take the lead and go up, 5-13. A service ace from Valerie Nilan put Gordon within two points of a tie, but the Mammoths powered through to bring the game to a 1-1 tie (20-25).
• Keeping their momentum going in the third, Gordon started off with a six-point run broken up by one Amherst point, before grabbing an 8-1 advantage. The Scots held on to their lead for the remainder of the set before Joey Keltner sealed the overall 2-1 lead for her team with a towering kill. However, the Mammoths fought for another set as they pulled out to a 13-7 lead before taking the fifth set, 25-19.
• In the final frame, the Fighting Scots earned a two-point edge but Amherst quickly tied it up, 4-4 before going ahead, 10-6. The Scots attempted to close the gap, coming within one (9-10) but it wasn't enough as the Mammoths took the fifth set 15-11 and overall 3-2 win.

Game Two

• In the nightcap, Macie Carroll got the Scots going with a powerful kill, catalyzing a seven-point run from Gordon (10-2). However, Rivier battled back to grab the first set 27-25. 
• Next, both squads went point for point until the Raiders slowly pulled away to grab a six-point lead (17-11). Murphy continued to dominate the court as she sparked a Scot run, making it a one-point game (17-18) to force a Rivier timeout. Once the Raiders regrouped, they took set number two, 25-18. In the third set, the Fighting Scots attempted to force another set, but the Raiders continued to control the court, securing the 3-0 sweep (25-19).

Beyond The Box Score

• Annie Murphy booked a season-high digs (11), points (14), and kills (14) in this evening's game against Amherst.
• The Fighting Scots are back in action on Wednesday, September 28 when they travel to the University of New England for their second Conference match at 7 p.m.