Eagles Fly Highest in Sweeps of Cardinals and Falcons

HUNTINGDON, PA- Juniata women's volleyball added two more 3-0 sweeps to their record with wins over conference opponent Catholic Univeristy, and non-conference opponent Messiah University in a doubleheader on Saturday.

The day started with a matchup against the Cardinals of Catholic at noon.

In set one against the Cardinals, the Eagles were down 4-6 after the first ten points. A 4-0 run ensued, giving them an 8-6 lead. The match tightened up in the middle of the set, and the match went through six ties before reaching a 17-17 scoreline. As they have done in several matches this season, the Eagles closed out the set with a commanding 8-1 run. Juniata took set one 25-17, as Maggie Hayes made the final kill.

Set two unfolded much like set one, except it was the Eagles who led 6-4 after the first ten points this time. While the Eagles maintained a small lead, the Cardinals kept it close throughout the set. A 4-1 run extended the lead to seven, and a 6-0 run quickly followed. Up 22-11, the Eagles were able to see out set two, 25-13. The final point came off a Cardinals attack error.

The Eagles held another 6-4 lead in set three, as a 4-0 run put them in the lead after trailing 1-3 early. The teams traded nine straight points before the Eagles led 16-13, taking nine of the last 11 points to surge ahead. At 25-15, the Eagles took set three on another attack error by the Cardinals.

Hayes' 11 kills was the match-high, just as Elizabeth Cleveland's 27 assists led the match in the stats book. Isabella Rushing made 12 digs in the backcourt alongside 11 from Cleveland.

With a conference win secured, the Eagles shifted their focus to the Falcons of Messiah University at 5:00 p.m.

The Eagles started this one on the front foot, with an 8-2 lead setting the tone early. At 11-4 though, the Falcons started to grow into the game. They brought the Eagle advantage down to one at 13-12, although the Eagles never conceded the lead. Up 16-14, the Eagles went on a defining 8-0 run, where they would eventually lock up the set one victory, 25-17. The Eagles forced an attack error by Messiah on the final point.

Set two followed suit, with another 8-2 lead putting the Eagles out in front after the first ten points. This time, the Eagles continued to extend their lead and kept their distance from the Falcons on the scoreboard. The lead reached its largest form at a 12-point difference at 19-7 and 22-10, and the Eagles went on to take set two 25-14. Mari Hansen made a sneaky kill for the final point.

The Eagles finished strong on their third and final set of the day. After a quick 0-3 burst from the Falcons put the Eagles down 2-3, the Eagles won four of the next five points, and never trailed again in the set. After the teams split the next four points, a 7-1 run followed, giving the Eagles their first substantial lead of the set at 13-6. The Falcons came within four points, but never threatened the lead. A 10-3 run took the Eagles all the way to match point at 24-13, and they converted on their fourth try. Ending 25-16, the Eagles had clinched another sweep, on yet another attack error from their opponents.

Emily Farrell led the Eagles with 13 kills in match two, as Cleveland and Hansen added 14 and 13 assists, respectively. Rushing added 10 more digs to her tally for the Eagles. 

At 18-2 overall and 4-0 in conference play, the Eagles will play their next match on the road against Landmark Conference opponent Lycoming College on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m.