HAVERFORD, Pa. – Sophomore Elizabeth Cella capped a remarkable week with another standout offensive performance Saturday afternoon, delivering 21 kills as the Haverford College volleyball team (13-3, 4-1 CC) swept visiting Gettysburg (12-7, 1-3 CC), 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-21), in Centennial Conference action at Gooding '84 Arena.
Cella finished the afternoon hitting .348 with 21 kills on 46 attempts, adding seven digs and two service aces as the Fords extended their winning streak to four matches. The performance capped a staggering 51-kill week for the Haverford attacker, who followed Wednesday's record-setting 30-kill outing at Ursinus with another 20-plus-kill performance, continuing to establish herself as one of the most prolific attackers in Division III volleyball.
The victory also marked a significant milestone for the Scarlet and Black against a familiar conference opponent. Haverford swept Gettysburg for the first time since Oct. 1, 2016, ending a 10-year drought between straight-set victories over the Bullets. The result was also the Fords' first victory over Gettysburg since 2021.
Saturday's contest served as Haverford's Venture Campaign Pink Out match, with the Fords recognizing the Hope Venture Fund and HEADstrong Foundation during a pregame ceremony. Players wore pink ribbons, while both coaching staffs donned pink apparel in support of those affected by cancer.
On the court, the Fords demonstrated the resilience that has defined their recent stretch of conference victories. Gettysburg repeatedly mounted scoring runs and threatened to shift momentum, but Haverford answered each challenge with timely kills, strong defensive play and contributions throughout the lineup.
Cella led the attack, but the Scarlet and Black received plenty of support from a bevy of key contributors. Marlee Hills finished with nine kills, Fiona Moord added six kills and three blocks, and Gia Frank contributed five kills. Anna Krotky Koeppe directed the offense with 33 assists and eight digs, while Kira Chaney anchored the back row with a match-high 21 digs. Haverford finished with 45 kills and a .261 hitting percentage, limiting Gettysburg to a .188 clip. The Fords also held a 7-2 advantage in service aces, with Cella and Olivia DeVille each recording two.
Gettysburg opened the first set with consecutive points and remained within striking distance throughout the early stages, taking an 8-6 advantage following a service ace from Erin Gonzalez. Haverford responded with five consecutive points, highlighted by back-to-back service aces from DeVille, to take an 11-8 lead. The Fords continued to build momentum, with Cella delivering a kill and a service ace during a four-point surge that extended the advantage to 16-10.
The Bullets answered with three consecutive points to cut the deficit to 16-13, but Hills halted the run with a kill. Gettysburg continued to battle, trimming the margin to 21-17, only for Cella to answer with consecutive kills as Haverford pushed ahead 23-17. The visitors saved two set points before Cella delivered the final blow, putting away her eighth kill of the opening frame to secure the 25-19 victory.
The second set provided the afternoon's most sustained challenge for the Fords, as Gettysburg jumped out to a 9-5 advantage behind an early offensive surge. Haverford responded with six consecutive points behind the serving of Koeppe, turning the four-point deficit into an 11-9 lead. Cella capped the run with a kill before Gettysburg answered with three consecutive points to move back in front, 12-11.
The teams traded points through the middle stages, with the Bullets eventually taking a 16-14 advantage. Once again, the Scarlet and Black had an answer. Haverford rattled off five consecutive points, with Moord providing a kill before Cella delivered back-to-back finishes to put the Fords ahead 19-16. Gettysburg refused to go quietly, cutting the deficit to 20-19 before Cella halted the rally with another kill. The Bullets later fought off two set points to pull within 24-22, prompting a Haverford timeout. Frank delivered the decisive finish out of the stoppage, securing the 25-22 victory and giving the Fords a commanding two-set advantage.
The third set featured another determined effort from Gettysburg, but Haverford remained composed throughout the frame. The Scarlet and Black established an early 11-7 lead before the Bullets chipped away, eventually closing within 14-13. Following a Haverford timeout, Koeppe recorded a kill to halt the run, and the Fords extended their advantage to 18-14 behind a finish from Hills. Gettysburg again battled back, pulling within 18-16, but Hills answered with another kill before Moord and Cella combined to push the lead to 22-18. The Bullets narrowed the deficit to 22-20, but Cella responded with another kill to restore a three-point cushion. After Gettysburg saved one match point, Cella delivered the final kill to close out the 25-21 victory, completing the sweep in emphatic fashion.
Cella's 21 kills accounted for nearly half of Haverford's 45 kills on the afternoon.  Moord contributed 8.5 points behind her six kills, two solo blocks and one block assist. Chaney's 21 digs highlighted a strong defensive effort for the Fords, who totaled 55 digs as a team. Koeppe added eight digs, while Cella finished with seven and Heejin Kim contributed five.
For Gettysburg, Ellen Manke paced the attack with 10 kills on a .429 hitting percentage, while Emma Bradshaw added nine kills. Erin Gonzalez and Nala Shearer each collected 12 digs. The victory improved Haverford to 4-1 in Centennial Conference play as the Fords continued their push through the heart of the conference schedule.
Volleyball returns to action Wednesday, Oct. 21, hosting Washington College at Gooding '84 Arena as Centennial Conference play continues. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m., with the Fords looking to extend their four-match winning streak and strengthen their position in the conference standings.
