CARLISLE, Pa. – The Haverford College volleyball team (15-3, 6-1 CC) officially punched its ticket to the Centennial Conference Tournament for the fourth consecutive season Saturday afternoon, battling past host Dickinson (14-8, 3-3 CC) in four sets, 3-1 (25-18, 23-25, 29-27, 25-21), at the Kline Center.
Sophomore Elizabeth Cella continued her outstanding offensive campaign, registering a match-high 22 kills to go along with three service aces and seven digs. The Scarlet and Black showcased their depth throughout the afternoon, responding to a narrow second-set loss with a dramatic 29-27 victory in the third before closing out the match in the fourth frame.Â
The victory marked Haverford's sixth consecutive win, improving the Fords to 6-1 in Centennial Conference play as the regular season enters its final stretch.
Cella led an offense that featured four players with double-digit kills. Gia Frank contributed 13 kills and three block assists, while Marlee Hills delivered an efficient 12 kills on 24 attempts with just three errors, hitting .375. Fiona Moord added 10 kills and three total blocks.
Anna Krotky Koeppe orchestrated the attack with a career-best 49 assists and eight digs, while libero Kira Chaney anchored the back row with a match-high 26 digs. Sierra Lever chipped in nine digs and two service aces.
The opening set featured an early Dickinson advantage, as the Red Devils jumped ahead 9-5. Haverford responded with a 5-1 stretch to even the score at 10-10 before taking control behind a six-point service run from Krotky Koeppe. During the decisive stretch, Frank delivered a pair of kills, Cella added another, and Maggie Turner contributed a block as the Fords surged ahead 16-10. Haverford maintained its cushion down the stretch, with Krotky Koeppe delivering the final kill to secure a 25-18 opening-set victory.
Dickinson answered in the second frame, overcoming an early 6-3 deficit to keep the contest tight. The Fords continued to generate offense, but neither side could establish a commanding advantage as the set moved into its final stages.
With the score tied at 21-21, Cella put Haverford back in front with a kill, but Dickinson responded with three consecutive points to reach set point at 24-22. Frank kept the Fords alive with a kill before Norah Oppenheim closed out the frame for the Red Devils, 25-23, leveling the match at one set apiece.
The third set proved to be the turning point as Haverford continued to spread the offensive production across its lineup, recording a match-high 18 kills in the frame while hitting .255.
The Scarlet and Black appeared poised to take the set with a 24-21 advantage, but Dickinson rallied for three straight points to even the score at 24-24. The teams then traded blows through several tense exchanges, with neither side able to secure the two-point margin needed to finish the frame.
Cella came through with two crucial late kills, including one to even the score at 27-27. A combined block from Lolly Adair and Lever gave Haverford another set-point opportunity at 28-27 before Frank delivered the finishing kill, securing a dramatic 29-27 victory and putting the Fords back in front, 2-1.
With momentum on their side, the Fords carried their energy into the fourth set. Haverford established an early advantage and maintained control throughout the frame, refusing to allow Dickinson to regain the lead.
The Scarlet and Black extended their advantage to 23-17 behind a late offensive surge that featured kills from Hills and Moord. Dickinson responded with four consecutive points to trim the deficit to 23-21, but the Fords remained composed.
A Dickinson service error brought Haverford to match point before Lever delivered a service ace to seal the 25-21 victory and officially secure the Fords' a Centennial Conference postseason berth.
Haverford finished with 62 kills compared to Dickinson's 45, hitting .205 as a team while recording eight service aces, 68 digs and nine total blocks. Mallie Thomas paced Dickinson with 19 kills and three service aces, while Oppenheim added nine kills.
With the victory, Haverford extended its winning streak to six matches, a streak it will take into a Wednesday night showdown with Bi-Co neighbor Bryn Mawr on October 28. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. and it is Haverford's Faculty/Staff Appreciation Match.
