BRIDGEWATER, Va. - The nationally recognized Bridgewater College women's volleyball team knocked down No. 17 ranked Batten in a five-set thriller Saturday afternoon.
The Basics
Score: Bridgewater (BC) 3, Batten (BATN) 2
Records: BC (11-1, 3-0), BATN (12-3, 1-2)
How It Happened
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Against a nationally ranked opponent, this match was circled dark red on the calendar; and the Eagles did not stray away. In the opening set, the Marlins plunged ahead first with the early lead at 6-1. BC quickly dwindled the deficit to a one-point game as Lindsay Kelley rose high to finish a striking attack set up by Alexis Currie. Then, Olivia Mason wound back and fired a laser to find open hardwood. BC then evened up the match at 11 apiece but could not grab hold of a lead. BATN then pushed ahead using a strong seven-point swing to position it well for the first set. The Marlins took the first set, 25-15.
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In the second set, the Eagles came roaring back, going on a massive seven-point scoring run for a 13-7 lead. BATN managed to cut the deficit slightly but would not be enough to stop the charging Eagles from finding their groove. Maecy Ann Frizzelle closed out the second set with a thunderous strike to take a 25-20 second set score.
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BATN then flipped their momentum push back over to its side while landing the first two points of the set. The Marlins then enlarged their lead to 12-6 through the middle of the set. That would be enough to keep the Eagles away for the time being despite hustling offensive efforts from Reagan Stoop, Frizzelle, and Agnes Alford. BATN secured the lead safely for a 25-18 third set score.
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Then, intensity rose and adrenaline was pumping in the fourth set. BC ripped off an early 6-3 lead while Reagan Stoop belted a devastating kill for a commanding 12-5 advantage. The Eagles pushed ahead with the help of a six-point surge as Alford led the way in the scoring run with three of the next six points for the Eagles. Stoop expressed the final goodbye to the set with a kill to hold a 25-12 fourth set score.
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The fifth-deciding set came into focus. BATN started off with the early lead, charging ahead to a 3-0 lead and then a 9-4 edge. After the timeout; the Eagles locked in, smacking the next five-straight points to even up the match at nine apiece. Frizzelle and Alford paired up to pound the next kills and keep a 13-10 lead. Alford sized up the situation and dialed back to fire a kill effectively set up by Maya Veselinovic for a 14-11 match. BATN did not stop and fought back to stay alive extending the set. However, Stoop had other plans and cracked the game-winning smack to take a 17-15 set for the match.
Match Notes
Up Next
The Eagles are back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 29 as they head to Mary Washington for a non-conference tilt at 6 p.m.
