By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
ATLANTA, Ga. – The No. 9 Juniata College women's volleyball team lost a hard match, 3-1 (25-20, 25-23, 15-25, 25-12), to No. 6 Emory, in its first contest of the Emory National Invite. Juniata went down two sets and fought back for a strong third set win, but was unable to fend of the home team and fell to 23-4 on the year.
Juniata opened strong in the first set, winning the opening five points and forcing and Emory timeout. The break served Emory well as it was able to quickly tie the match at 7-7. The two teams traded points up to 10 all, before Emory went on a four point run, helped by a few miscues from Juniata, and forced a timeout from the Juniata bench. On the service of Christine Sumner (Dublin, Ohio./Bishop Watterson), Juniata came back to within one, but a number of hard fought, physical, points later and Emory was up 20-16. Juniata battled to defy the odds, but Emory claimed the first set 25-20.
The second set continued the even play of the first set, with both the Emory block and the Juniata service game earning points. Senior Rachelle Wiegand (Manheim Central/Manheim Central) came into serve in the middle of the set and helped Juniata take the lead at 12-11. A number of scrappy points later and the two teams were tied once again at 15-15. Three consecutive points put Juniata up 19-16 in a battle of two middles between Sumner and her Emory counterpart. Sumner finished the night with five kills. Emory was able to tie the match at 19 all and then again at 20-20. Juniata was then able to tie the match at 23-23, but Emory notched two kills to end the set 25-23.
Out of the ten minute break between sets, Emory took the first six points before Juniata tallied one of its own, but Emory kept control of the set jumping out to an 8-1 lead. Juniata showed perseverance and determination coming back to within one at 11-10 Emory and forcing its opponent to call a time out. Out of the break, Juniata took the first point tying the game at 11 all. On the serve of senior Amy Miller (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch), Juniata grabbed its first lead of the set and stretched it out to 15-11. The tough serving from the team from Huntingdon continued the momentum and put Juniata up 23-15. The team earned kills from Sumner and freshmen Nakita Gearhart (Waynesboro, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) to take set three 25-15.
Emory took a solid eight point lead, at 14-6, in the fourth set and and closed out the match with the 25-12 win. Miller finished the night with a team high 12 kills and a team high 17 digs. Gearhart added six kills of her own and freshman setter Kelly Reynolds (Upper Saint Clair, Pa./Upper Saint Clair) finished the match with 29 assists.
Juniata will face No. 15 Trinity (Tx.) at 1 p.m. tomorrow, followed by its final match of the weekend against SUNY-Cortland, at 3:30 p.m. Juniata next returns home Friday-Saturday, Nov. 8-9, to host the Landmark Conference Championship. Juniata will play in the first match on Nov. 8 at 5:30 p.m. against the winner of Moravian at Scranton taking place at 7:00 p.m. Nov. 5.
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