GETTYSBURG, Pa. (BC Athletics) – Bridgewater College women’s volleyball swept the day with a four-set victory over Messiah and a straight-set win over Lycoming at the Gettysburg Battlefield Classic Friday.

Match 1 Score: Bridgewater (BC) 3, Messiah (MES) 1
Match 2 Score: Bridgewater (BC) 3, Lycoming (LYC) 0

Records: BC (3-0); MES (0-1), LYC (1-1)

How It Happened
Match 1
• Although Messiah hung close throughout the match, BC carried on with strong commitment defensively and serve efficiency. In the opening set, the Eagles jumped out to an early lead at 6-2 led by a thunderous kill from Claire Griffith. Then, MES came back and claimed the lead following a three-point scoring run to take a 12-10 advantage. However, that did not faze the Crimson & Gold. Shortly after, BC stormed to a six-point run as Maecy Ann Frizzelle cashed in back-to-back service aces followed with a smack down from Olivia Mason. The Eagles squeezed out of the set safely to take the first set, 25-22.
• In the second set, the Eagles struggled to maintain a steady lead and could not find enough momentum to push past the Falcons despite a four-point burst in the middle of the set for a 14-11 lead. MES quickly erased the deficit and rumbled to a five-point run to take a 20-15 edge. The Eagles found a small momentum push late in the set to knot the score at 24 apiece after a Frizzelle kill but could not surge successfully as the Falcons held on to take a 26-24 set score.
• The Eagles entered the third set with determination to close it down and push ahead. From the very first point, BC remained in front. Gradually but effectively, the Eagles found separation in the middle of the set as Maya Veselinovic and Frizzelle paired up to pound back-to-back kills for a 13-7 lead. By the end, the Eagles held down the nest as Reagan Stoop sounded out the third set with a closing kill to take a 25-19 set score.
• Both teams traded momentum swings in the fourth set, but the one that stuck happened in the middle of the set as the Eagles commanded a dominant eight-point surge. Later in the set, Agnes Alford added more of an offensive outburst to keep a steady lead, and Frizzelle snagged an ace to close out the match for a final set score, 25-21.

Match 2
• The Eagles controlled the pace and flow the entire match against Lycoming as well as maintaining a strong team hitting percentage in the opening set. Out of the 14 total attacks, 11 succeeded. The Eagles clamped an early 5-1 advantage to set the stage behind three consecutive service aces from Reagan Stoop. Soon after, BC commanded a 12-4 lead. Then, to follow, the Eagles roared to an 11-point scoring run to help end the first set at 25-8.
• More long scoring runs took place in the second set. Claire Griffith and Olivia Mason succeeded with back-to-back kills followed by an eight-point scoring surge. The momentum stayed on BC’s side the rest of the way as Mason smacked the final point of the set with a kill for a 25-7 second set score.
• The momentum could not be stopped. In the third set, more of the same fiery offense exploded while Lindsay Kelley, Jillian Levin, and Maddy Dumais got in on the barrage. A six-point scoring run helped close the match as Molly Gardner struck the final point with an ace to take a 25-15 final set score.

Match Notes
Match 1
• As a team, Bridgewater outdid Messiah in all offensive and defensive categories while also registering 15 service aces.
• Marlee Backover led defensively with 16 digs (a single-match career-high).
• First-year Maecy Ann Frizzelle logged another double-double, putting up 13 digs and 10 kills.
• Agnes Alford lended a hand stopping opposition attacking with five block assists and one solo block.

Match 2
• Bridgewater led in all offensive and defensive categories against Lycoming.
• Claire Griffith led the match with seven kills along with a team-high nine digs.
• The Eagles upped their service ace total to 16 (tying the season-high total so far).
• Bridgewater charged ahead in the assists category with 33 compared to nine for Lycoming, respectively.

Up Next
The Eagles return to the court tomorrow, Sept. 5 in Gettysburg, Pa., to take on Olivet and Gettysburg. First serve begins at 1:30 p.m.

— BC Athletics —