GLENSIDE, Pa. – The Arcadia University women's volleyball team earned a crucial 3-1 victory over Lebanon Valley College in MAC Freedom play on Wednesday night at home. The Knights (18-5, 3-2 MAC Freedom) dropped the opening set, 25-20, before rallying to win the next three, 25-19, 25-20 and 25-19. Arcadia hit .300 for the match while holding the Flying Dutchmen to .169. Devon Young led all players with 20 kills, Alliy Kulas paced the match with two aces, Chana Rothschild recorded a team-high three blocks, Bryana Saenz led all players with 30 assists and reached 2,000 career assists, and Avery Bell led all players with 15 digs. The victory was the first for the Knights under head coach Emily Poole.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE: Lebanon Valley 25 – Arcadia 20
- Back-to-back kills from Chana Rothschild and Morgan Orsulak gave the Knights their first lead at 4-3, but Lebanon Valley answered with a 4-0 run. A kill from Anna Keer and a solo block from Kaitlyn Small kept Arcadia within two at 9-7.
- Kills from Raegan Oursler, Rothschild, Orsulak and Young helped Arcadia battle back as the set progressed. A 3-0 run fueled by Lebanon Valley errors brought the Knights within six at 21-15.
- Looking to close the gap, Avery Bell recorded an ace, while Oursler and two kills from Rothschild made it 24-20. However, the Flying Dutchmen secured the final point to take the opening set.
SET TWO: Lebanon Valley 19 – Arcadia 25
- Orsulak's kill capped a 2-0 start for the Knights. Kills from Young and Oursler extended the lead to 5-2 before a 3-0 run by Lebanon Valley tied the set.
- Arcadia responded with a 6-1 run, featuring two kills from Oursler, kills from Young and Small, and an ace from Kulas. Oursler added two more kills and an ace before Young and Rothschild recorded consecutive kills to cap another 4-0 run.
- A kill from Rothschild, two kills from Young, and additional kills from Keer and Oursler pushed the Knights' lead to 22-14 as Lebanon Valley attempted to rally.
- Young's kill made it 24-16 before the Flying Dutchmen scored three straight points. Young answered with the set-clinching kill, evening the match at one set apiece.
SET THREE: Lebanon Valley 20 – Arcadia 25
- After falling behind 2-0 early, the Knights responded with a 4-0 run featuring two kills from Rothschild and a block by Orsulak and Rothschild. Following a brief Lebanon Valley rally, Arcadia took control with a 9-1 run, highlighted by two kills each from Young and Keer, additional kills from Oursler and Orsulak, and an ace from Rothschild.
- Young and Oursler powered the offense with the next four kills, extending the Knights' lead to 18-9.
- Lebanon Valley fought to close the gap, but Young and Oursler delivered key kills late in the set before Orsulak and Rothschild combined for a block to secure the 25-20 win and give Arcadia a 2-1 match lead.
SET FOUR: Lebanon Valley 19 – Arcadia 25
- Rothschild opened the set with two kills, and Young added another to cap a 3-0 run. A kill from Keer and an ace from Kulas helped the Knights regain the lead at 7-6.
- A Rothschild kill sparked a 3-0 run, capped by an ace from Saenz. Oursler and Young followed with consecutive kills before Young added two more to extend Arcadia's advantage to 15-11.
- Two kills from Oursler and another from Young fueled a 4-0 run. After Young added another kill, Lebanon Valley responded with four straight points. A solo block from Oursler, another kill from Oursler and a kill from Orsulak pushed the Knights ahead 23-18.
- Rothschild's kill brought Arcadia to match point before the senior sealed the victory with a solo block.
KNIGHT LEADERS
Kills: Young (20), Oursler (17), Rothschild (12)
Aces: Kulas (2), Rothschild (1), Saenz (1)
Blocks: Rothschild (3), Orsulak (2), Small (1)
Assists: Saenz (30), Small (19), Bell (6)
Digs: Bell (15), Oursler (10), Saenz (7)
UP NEXT
The Knights remain at home for a nonconference matchup against Moravian on Friday night. The contest against the Greyhounds will serve as Arcadia's Dig Pink Game.
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