KEUKA PARK, N.Y. – The short-handed York College volleyball squad suffered a 3-0 loss to Ursinus College in their season opener on Friday in the first round of the Keuka College Invitational. The Bears captured victory by scores of 25-20, 25-18, and 25-11.
The Bears improve to 1-0 while the Spartans fall to 0-1. The Spartans played the match without the services of three starters and a pair of key reserves as the final week of preseason was unkind to the Green and White.
 
How It Happened
• The first set was back and forth with four ties over the first 26 points of the set. The Bears scored three of the next four points as Ursinus took a 16-14 lead. Shortly after, the Bears went on a 5-1 run to take a 22-17 lead. York ripped off three straight points with a kill from Briyana Shepard, an Ursinus attack error and a Shepard service ace. Ursinus responded with three straight points of their own to take set number one 25-20.
• The Spartans came out hot in set two as they scored the first six points of the game. The Bears answered emphatically with eight straight points of their own to take a two-point lead. The Spartans tied the set at 10 and again at 11 and 12 but the Bears scored five of the next six points to take a 17-13 lead. York got to within three points three more times but the Bears held off the Spartan charges, taking set two, 25-18.
• York opened the third set with a pair of Abby Diehl aces but that would be the extent of the set highlights. After the two aces, Ursinus ripped off eight straight points. York scored two of the next three points but the Bears tallied five straight points to push out to a 14-4 lead. The Bears outscored the Spartans 11-7 the rest of the way to secure the three-set sweep.
 
Stat Attack
The Spartans hit -.076 for the match with 24 errors and just 17 kills in the match … York had just one kill in 26 attempts in the third set … York had 11 service errors in the loss … the Spartans had just four players record a kill in the match … sophomore Briyana Shepard led the way with nine kills … Alyssa Mott added 14 assists, two aces and six digs … Jasmine Doguin led the defensive effort with eight digs.
 
Spartan Notes
York is now 4-1 all-time against the Bears … the match is the first between the two programs since September 13, 2008 in Annville, PA … York is now 3-2 in season openers under head coach Dan Mickle.
 
Up Next
The Spartans conclude their stay at the Keuka College Invitational with games against Marywood at noon followed by a game against the host Wolves at 2:00 pm.