SELINSGROVE, Pa.-The Juniata women's volleyball team moved to 2-0 in conference play with a 3-0 (26-24, 25-10, 25-23) win over Moravian in their second match of the day at Houts Gymnasium.
The match started with Juniata taking a narrow 7-5 lead that the Greyhounds erased with a 7-1 charge that put the Eagles in a 8-12 hole. Following a timeout, the teams traded points before a kill from Alyssa Tavera (Whittier, Calif./La Salle H.S.), a block by Samantha Freese (Lewisberry, Pa./Red Land H.S.) and Marybeth Weihbrecht (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) paired with a Moravian attack error brought the Eagles within one, 13-14. Juniata could not pull even, as Moravian looked to take the opening set, 18-22. Juniata responded as a kill from Victoria Taylor (Middletown, Del./Delaware Military Academy) and an attack error forced a Moravian timeout. It was to no avail, as another Greyhound error along with a Tavera kill tied the score at 22-22. The Greyhounds took the next point before Taylor and Grace Erskine (Mooresville, N.C./Community School Davidson) kills gave JC set point. Moravian tied the score at 24-24, but kills from Marie Gonsar and Weihbrecht ended set one.
The second set saw Juniata take complete control early as they jumped on the Greyhounds with an 11-2 run. Erskine had two kills and a block assist while Freese had a kill and a block assist. Marie Gonsar (New Castle, Pa./Shenango H.S.) and Taylor each added a kill as well during the run. Moravian got as close as seven, but a service error and a kills from Weihbrecht and Gonsar pushed the lead back to 10. Juniata won set two with ease, 25-10.
Moravian went ahead 1-5 early, but Juniata closed the gap to one before a Moravian ace and kill made it 5-8. An ace from Makenna Hallager (Glenolden, Pa./Merion Mercy Academy), two Weihbrecht kills and a block by her and Lauren Levi (Oregon City, Ore./Oregon City HS), a solo block by Weihbrecht and an ace from Gonsar put JC ahead 10-8 while forcing a Moravian timeout. Katie Thomas (Batesville, Ind./Batesville) and Weihbrecht each tallied a kill following the timeout before they teamed up for a block to make it 13-8. Moravian pulled within two, 14-12. The teams traded points, and with the JC lead 19-17 the Eagles called timeout. Moravian whittled the lead to one, but two attack errors made it 23-20. Moravian got within one again before a Levi kill gave JC match point. The match ended with the teams trading service errors as Juniata took set three, 25-23.
Juniata will host Goucher, Wednesday at Memorial Gymnasium at 7:00.