YORK, PA – Alishia
Waltermyer's (Brogue, Pa./Red Lion) game-four spike
capped an exciting 3-1 conference victory for the York College
volleyball team Tuesday evening at York's Grumbacher Sport
& Fitness Center. The Spartans, who took the match 18-25,
25-19, 27-25, 25-23, improve their record to 10-8 on the year,
including 1-2 in the Capital Athletic Conference, while the
Mustangs drop to 16-2 and 1-1 in the CAC.
Stevenson jumped out to a 1-0 match lead, taking the first frame
25-18. The Mustangs took an early 12-3 lead behind the strong play
of 6'1” sophomore Alex Mercer. Battling back, the
Spartans went on to grab seven of the game's next eight
points to pull to within four a 14-10. Stretching their lead once
again, Stevenson took an 18-12 lead before York was able to pull
within four on two separate occasions, at 18-14 and then again at
20-16. That would be the closest margin the Spartans manage in game
one and Stevenson went on to win by seven.
Game two would be an entirely different story as the Spartans
only trailed twice during the frame. Stevenson's 1-0 and 6-5
advantages would be the only two times the Mustangs would own a
lead. After tying the game at six, the Spartans would never
relinquish the lead to their Maryland counterparts, staying just
ahead of the Mustangs for the remainder of the game.
Extra play would be on the docket for game three as the Spartans
would pull out the 27-25 win. Midway through the stanza the green
and white would find themselves down 14-7 after a strong 5-0
Mustang run. Answering with a run of their own, the Spartans
rattled off six straight and took eight of the next nine points to
tie the game at 15. Stevenson would then get the better of the
play, grabbing a 24-21 lead and it looked as if they would close
out the game. York had different ideas however, as the Spartans
took the next three points behind a kill from freshman
Alysse Beshore (York, Pa./Northeastern) and two
from junior Casi Brough (Hanover, Pa./Spring
Grove). A service ace from Julie Coombs
(Leonardtown, Md./Leonardtown) pushed the score to 25-24
in favor of the Spartans and York would go on to take the game
27-25.
Waltermyer registered an incredible fourth game, as she opened
the stanza by scoring York's first four points, giving the
Spartans an early 4-1 advantage. The sophomore middle hitter posted
three kills and a block that landed on the Mustangs' side of
the court. York would then extend that early margin to a strong
8-2. Stevenson answered the home squad's run with a 10-2
spurt of their own, grabbing a two-point margin at 12-10. The
scoring would go back and forth for much of the remainder of the
frame as neither side could manage to pull away from the other.
Late in the game, the Spartans found themselves down 23-21 after a
kill from Mustang outside hitter Paige Norvell. Much as they did in
game three however, York would grind out the next few points and
grab a 24-23 lead, setting up Waltermyer's game- and
match-winning spike.
Waltermyer led the York side with 12 kills on 24 attempts with
zero hitting errors. Cortni Rentzel (Mt. Wolf,
Pa./Northeastern) and Heather Buchar (Carlisle,
Pa./Carlisle) split the setting duties handing out 20 and
19 helpers, respectively. Coombs played a solid all-around match
recording 14 digs, eight kills, and one service ace to go along
with a trio of block assists. Libero Amanda Clemens
(Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) put in a strong defensive
performance, registering a team-high 31 digs.
For the Mustangs, Mercer was a force at the net recording 15
kills and three solo blocks. Brittany Umetin dished out 19 assists
and had a team-best 18 digs, while Danielle Helwig posted five
kills and 16 digs. Julie Olsen tied Helwig's dig total with
16 of her own.
The Spartans are set to hit the road on Thursday, September 25,
as the green and white visit Washington, D.C. to take on Gallaudet.
The CAC tilt is slated for a 7:00 pm start.
MATCH BOX
