Eagles Rally Against Fords to Take 3-1 Victory

HUNTINGDON, PA – The Juniata women's volleyball team (22-1, 5-0 Landmark) recovered from a tough loss in the third set Friday night to take a 3-1 victory over the Haverford Fords. 

Both teams had strong performances in the first set but the Eagles took the victory 25-21. The Fords played tough against Juniata and started to pull them out of routine in the second. A 25-21 victory in the second set gave Juniata a 2-0 lead in the match. 

Haverford dominated much of the third set and held as much as a nine-point lead. Juniata pushed back and got within four points three times but the Fords took the set 25-18. 

"I thought they (Haverford) did a great job defensively and it made us impatient," head coach Heather Pavlik said. "We started to either do too much on the swings or try tipping. It just wasn't how we play our game." 

After being forced into a fourth set, Juniata got back to their style of play. They opened with a 7-2 run and went on to take the set 25-12 and won the match 3-1. 

"All Casey (Dale) and I said was 'forget about the third, let go and start fresh'," Pavlik said. "We needed to pass better and get the ball to our middles because they weren't getting many opportunities to score. With as good as our middles are, we need to be getting them good, solid opportunities." 

Pavlik also noted the team's serving was stronger in the fourth set and that the outside hitters were more aggressive. 

Freshman outside hitter Glen Brumm (Oro Valley, AZ / Canyon Del Oro) led with five kills in the fourth set. The Eagles totaled five service aces in the final set against Haverford.

Sophomore middle hitter Megan Moroney (Mentor, OH / Mentor) made the most of her opportunities and paved the way for the Eagles with 15 kills on 27 attacks for a .444 hitting percentage. The 15 kills put Moroney at 209 on the season (11 more than her total last season). She has also hit over .400 in each of the past four matches and averages a .354 hitting percentage on the season. 

Brumm and Nakita Gearhart (Waynesboro, PA / Greencastley-Antrim) each totaled nine attacks against the Fords. Gearhart averaged a .286 hitting percentage in the match. 

Kelly Reynolds (Upper Saint Clair, PA / Upper Saint Clair) recorded 42 assists and two service aces. Bryce Arnold (Shippensburg, PA / Shippensburg Area) finished with three service aces. 

Juniata has a quick turnaround and hosts the Landmark Conference weekend between Merchant Marine, Scranton and Susquehanna Sat. Oct. 17. The Eagles and Royals are up first at 11am. Scranton and Juniata are the only two undefeated teams in conference play.