UR’s volleyball team beat Lebanon Valley College before losing to Catholic University of America on Saturday in Annville, Pennsylvania.
In the first set against Lebanon Valley, UR overcame 6-1 and 11-5 deficits before going on a 4-1 run to make the score 12-9. Despite battling to win six more points during the set, UR would ultimately surrender three consecutive points and lose the set 25-15.
After UR’s junior Ruby Moore (#5) scored the first point of the second set, Lebanon Valley scored three straight but UR rebounded with four points of their own.
UR and Lebanon Valley traded points, including consecutive 3-0 runs, en route to an 11-11 tie.
The two teams would trade points again, until Lebanon Valley scored three straight again, followed by seven consecutive points from UR. Lebanon Valley responded with four of their own to tie the set at 20, forcing the set to extra points. Both teams battled to 25-25 before UR went on a 4-2 run to win the set 29-27, capped off by a service ace from senior Alexia Nelms (#16).
UR began the third set on a 7-3 run before Lebanon Valley rallied with a 5-2 run of their own. UR next scored two straight, then surrendered three straight. UR scored two straight, then two from Lebanon Valley, and then two more from UR.
Lebanon Valley then scored to tie the set at 17. The Yellowjackets went on a 6-4 run to make the score 23-21 and force a Lebanon Valley time out. Lebanon Valley came out of the time out with two straight points, before UR ended the set with two of their own.
UR clinched the match with a back-and-forth fourth set that saw them jump out to a 9-4 lead before Lebanon Valley scored six straight.
UR and Lebanon Valley went back and forth before UR broke away with a 7-1 run. Lebanon Valley answered with three straight, but UR sealed the match with two more points.
Sophomore Ashley Cook (#3) and junior Rylee Bergeron (#11) led UR with 13 kills each, while Nelms racked up a stellar 38 assists.
UR lost a five-set heartbreaker against Catholic University of America next, despite leading 9-7 at the beginning of the first set.
Catholic rallied by scoring four straight, although UR did not lose their composure as they kept the set tied at 19-19. The two teams went blow for blow en route to another tie, this time at 22.
UR finished the set by scoring three straight points, including a kill by Cook and a service ace from sophomore Lilly Kraemer (#12).
Although UR gave up a 4-1 run to start the second set, they came back with four consecutive points. UR and Catholic traded runs until Cook tied the set at 16. Catholic then scored four straight points, but UR rallied by scoring seven points to Catholic’s four before conceding the final point to lose the set. UR and Catholic both went on runs, leading to an 8-6 Catholic lead. While UR pulled in front 12-10 because of a 4-2 run, Catholic regained their lead at 14-13.
UR then scored two to go back in front, but the teams traded the lead three times before tying the set at 20. Catholic scored three straight to take the lead again, but UR went on a 4-1 run to tie the game at 24.
Next, the teams traded points to make it 25-25. Despite the Yellowjackets’ best efforts, they lost two points and the set 27-25.
The next set was similarly competitive to start as the two teams tied at 7-7. UR then took an 11-8 lead before Catholic took a time out. Catholic went on a 7-4 run to tie the set at 15.
UR would take a 21-17 lead on a service ace from sophomore Iliana Balaskas (#2) before giving up four straight.
Tied at 21, UR scored four of the last five points to win the set, capped off by two kills by sophomore Shanya Alvarez (#14).
UR was unable to create any momentum in the 15-point final set, falling to 7-1 and 12-2 deficits before matching Catholic point-for-point in a 15-5 loss. Cook again led UR with a game-high 17 kills, while Nelms had a game-high 44 assists.
UR will look to bounce back at Keuka College on Wednesday the 25th.
