By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: JD Cavrich
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – On a packed night in Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center, the No. 8 Juniata College women's volleyball team gutted out a win over Geneva College 3-0 (25-20, 27-25, 22-21). The Eagles hit for a team .320-attack percentage on their way to improving to 16-1 on the season.
Juniata took the lead early in the first set at 11-6, but the Golden Tornadoes did not go down easy and started to mount a comeback at 22-14 Juniata. With set point looming, Geneva was able to fight off two points and force the Eagles into a timeout. Juniata finally closed out the first set on a kill from senior Amy Miller (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch).
"Amy had a good night," said head coach Heather Pavlik. "Once again Amy shows up in crunch time to do some really good stuff. There is something to be said for finding a way to win when you don't have your best stuff. Good teams have to do that at some point. Sometimes you're tired and you don't have your best stuff, but you find a way to get it done."
Geneva took the first substantial lead of the second set, 6-4. But the Eagles quickly climbed back into the match evening the score at six all. After a few miscues by the Juniata, senior Courtney Lydick (McKean, Pa./General McLane) drove down a commanding kill to put the Eagles back in the lead 12-11.
"Courtney came in and got some big kills," said Pavlik. "She did a good job hitting the ball sharply tonight. She did well getting up in time and being quick."
The Golden Tornadoes were able to pull out another lead in the set, 19-17, until Miller drilled home a kill and took over serving duties for the Eagles. Juniata evened the game at 19 and forced a Geneva time out at 20-19 Eagles. The two teams continued to trade points until the Eagles shut the door on the second set off the service of freshman Bryce Arnold (Shippensburg, Pa./Shippensburg).
"I think there are certain people who stepped up big tonight," said Pavlik. "Bryce played a really good offensive match tonight. She came up with some very timely kills for us. Amy came up with some very timely serving at the end of game two."
In the third set Geneva took the lead 11-7, but the Eagles charged back to even the set at 13-13. Juniata fought hard to come back a second time in the set knotting the score at 18 all. The Eagles earned match point off a solid block from junior Christine Sumner (Dublin, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) to close out the three set sweep. Miller finished with a match-high 11 kills and hit for a .391 attack percentage. Arnold was right behind her with 10 kills and Lydick rounded out the top hitters of the night with a .364 average.
"We do need to clean things up a little bit," said Pavlik. "Some of that is simply communication, being assertive and not backing down and putting yourself right in the middle of the play. We are hitting for good numbers."
Juniata takes to the road for the first weekend of Landmark Conference play Saturday and Sunday in Selinsgrove, Pa. The Eagles next return home to host the annual Wid Guisler Invitational Tournament, Friday-Saturday, Oct. 25 and 26. Juniata's first match will be at 7 p.m. on the 25th against John's Hopkins.
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