YORK, PA - After falling in the first
game, the York College Spartans rallied back to win three in a row
as they defeated St. Mary's (Md.) College 24-26, 25-19,
25-18, 25-21, during the first round of a Capital Athletic
Conference playoff match on Tuesday night in York.
Sophomore Julie Coombs (Leonardtown,
Md./Leonardtown) was a key contributor during set number
two, sparking the Green-and-White and giving them much needed
momentum that would carry her squad throughout the remainder of the
match. Coombs had three kills during the beginning of the second
set and then a few crucial blocks later in the set, allowing the
Spartans to tie the match up at one game apiece. Coombs finished
the match with nine kills, 16 digs, and three blocks.
The Spartans evidently showed they wanted to
advance to the next round of the CAC playoffs, as they held or at
least had a share of the lead during the entirety of set three.
Heather Bucher
(Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle) recorded both of her aces during
that set, throwing down her serves on consecutive points. Bucher
would finish with 10 kills and six digs for the match.
Despite rolling through set three, it took
York halfway through set four until they were able to get their
offense to start clicking again. The Spartans saw the tides turn in
their favor after freshmen Melissa Patterson (Edgewater,
Md./South River) put one away after a lengthy rally to
give her squad a 17-16 advantage, York's first lead since the
opening point of the set. Patterson would have a few more clutch
kills down the stretch as she helped put the match away for the
Green-and-White. Patterson would finish with nine kills on only 12
attempts and would also tack on three blocks.
In what was a total team effort, Alishia Waltermyer (Brogue,
Pa./Red Lion) led her squad with 11 kills while junior
Alysse Beshore (York,
Pa./Northeastern) added on nine kills of her own. On the
defensive side of the ball, freshman Ashley Rineman (Hanover, Pa./Delone
Catholic) led the Spartans with 21 digs en route to
advancing her team's record to 18-13 on the year.
The Spartans will take on the Salisbury
University Sea Gulls on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. as the two
squads will battle in out during a Capital Athletic Conference
semi-final match.
Written by Sports
Information Department Intern Matt Clark
MATCH BOX
Heather Bucher photo by Scott Guise
