HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College women's volleyball team (10-3, 1-1 CC) returned to the win column in commanding fashion Wednesday evening, sweeping Muhlenberg (8-10, 0-2 CC) by set scores of 25-19, 25-16 and 25-21 in a Centennial Conference clash at Gooding '84 Arena.
Elizabeth Cella powered the Scarlet and Black with a match-high 19 kills, while the Fords delivered a balanced offensive and defensive performance to secure their first conference victory of the season.
Haverford finished with 45 kills against just eight attacking errors, posting a .394 hitting percentage while holding the Mules to a .146 clip.
The Fords also established a commanding presence at the net, recording 10 team blocks while Muhlenberg was held without a block. Maggie Turner led the defensive effort with six blocks, including one solo rejection and five block assists.
The opening set featured a tightly contested start, with neither side able to establish much separation through the first 20 points. Muhlenberg briefly held a 5-3 advantage before the Fords responded, eventually moving ahead 11-10 on a kill from Fiona Moord.
Haverford began to create breathing room behind the serving of Olivia DeVille, who delivered an ace as part of a three-point stretch that pushed the Scarlet and Black ahead 14-10.
Cella continued to provide a reliable offensive option, while Marlee Hills and Moord helped extend the advantage to 20-15.
The Fords reached set point at 24-16 before the Mules rattled off three consecutive points. Moord ultimately slammed the door with a kill off a set from Anna Krotky Koeppe, securing the 25-19 opening-set victory.
Haverford carried that momentum into the second frame, quickly establishing control after the teams traded points in the early going. With the score tied at 4-4, the Scarlet and Black began to pull away, building a 10-5 advantage and forcing Muhlenberg to chase the set from behind.
The Fords continued to maintain their cushion behind an efficient offensive attack. Moord and Cella helped keep the pressure on the Mules, while Haverford's front line repeatedly disrupted the visitors at the net.
A block from Cella and Moord helped push the lead to 20-12 before another rejection, this time from Krotky Koeppe and Turner, extended the advantage to 22-14. Haverford eventually closed out the frame 25-16 on a Muhlenberg service error, taking a commanding two-set advantage into the third.
The Scarlet and Black again found themselves in a competitive opening stretch in the third set, with the teams battling through ties at 1-1, 3-3, 5-5 and 6-6.
Haverford began to seize control behind Cella, who delivered a service ace to extend the advantage to 13-8. A block from Gia Frank and Turner later pushed the margin to 16-8, giving the Fords their largest lead of the set.
Muhlenberg refused to go quietly, cutting into the deficit behind the attacking efforts of Abigail Oswari and Kelliann Keogh. The Mules eventually pulled within 23-19 before Frank delivered a kill to bring up match point.
The visitors fought off two match points, but Moord provided the final answer, putting away a kill from Dasha Igonin to complete the 25-21 victory and secure the three-set sweep.
Cella finished with 19 kills on 31 swings, committing just three attacking errors while adding four block assists, a new career high. The sophomore has now reached 572 kills through her first 41 collegiate matches.
Frank added eight kills on just 12 attempts with one error, while Moord contributed nine kills and four total blocks.
Turner anchored the blocking effort with six total rejections, while Krotky Koeppe established a new career high with two block assists. The first-year setter also distributed 19 assists, while Igonin added 14 helpers.
Senior libero Kira Chaney paced the back row with 12 digs, reaching 991 for her career and moving closer to the 1,000-dig milestone. Sierra Lever and Igonin each contributed five digs, while Cella added four.
For Muhlenberg, Oswari led the attack with 12 kills, while Lizzie Steinkamp added six kills without an error. Chloe Gaglione recorded a team-high 13 digs, and Jenny Ryan distributed 17 assists.
Haverford next returns to Centennial Conference action Saturday, Oct. 10, traveling to Westminster, Md., to face McDaniel in a 1 p.m. matchup inside the Gill Center.
