Guilford College Volleyball Prevails Against Shenandoah in Five-Set Thriller
Moore and Alcantara unstoppable in set two during the long, heartfelt battle versus the Hornets
from Reagan Hune, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Natalie Moore (Talbott, Tenn.) matched her season-best in kills, Kaci Johnson (Winterville, N.C.) put on a show in set four, and Chrisbel Alcantara (San Juan, P.R.) added fuel to the fire in set two as the Guilford College volleyball team defeated Shenandoah University, 3-2 (25-18, 27-25, 23-25, 20-25, 15-9) on Saturday afternoon on Jack Jensen Court in the Ragan-Brown Field House.
Standout performances from Guilford players came from Moore registering game-high 16 kills, Kaci Johnson contributed nine kills, Maddi Page (Jonesboro, Ga.) guided the offense with an assist/dig double-double with 40 assists and 12 digs, and Madison Bozarth (Greensboro, N.C.) directed the defense for the Quakers with 20 digs.
Statistical leaders for the Hornets were Brooke Gast with team-high ten kills while teammate Hannah Hylton had a double-double performance with ten kills paired with 24 digs. Also for Shenandoah, Kylie Danella had the game-high assist count at 42 while Autumn Stroop finished with game-high 41 digs.
The Quakers started strong in the first set, jumping to a 10-2 lead with aces from Zoe Whisnant (Greensboro, N.C.) and consecutive aces from Madison Duvall (Sophia, N.C.). Kills from Johnson & Johnson, Vanessa and Kaci, also contributed to this run. SU fed off of GC’s mistakes for a 5-0 stretch, but Guilford answered with four-unanswered points including kills from Page and Moore. Minney attempted to encourage the Hornets with a kill, however Alcantara, Whisnant, and Kaci Johnson, who finished with 10.5 points, squashed their hope with kills. Vanessa Johnson finished the set with a kill, securing the 25-18 victory for Guilford.
Moore, who ended the night with a .224 clip and 17.5 points, brought the house down garnering six kills in set two. For the first 18 points of the set, the two people that contributed in the kill category for GC were Alcantara and Moore. The two teams battled closely throughout the set, never allowing each other to score more than three back-to-back points. After Duvall joined the party with a kill to make the score 20-19, Moore took the set into her own hands and was responsible for the last five kills. Moore’s dominance held off the Hornets, allowing the Quakers to clinch the second set, 27-25.
In the third set, Guilford raced out to a 5-2 edge thanks to kills from Page, double kills from Vanessa Johnson, and Whisnant before Shenandoah registered a 7-0 rally to claim the lead, 9-6. Back-to-back Bozarth aces kept the Quakers level, but the Hornets hit their stride, making it 15-13. Guilford tallied five of the following points to reclaim the momentum. A kill from Gast alongside GC offensive errors helped SU get ahead to make it 21-20. With the entire gym on the edge of their seats, Shenandoah ultimately captured the set victory, 25-23.
Page began the fourth set with two of her three service aces and went on to assist all six of Kaci Johnson’s kills in the set. SU went on a 7-2 run to advance the lead to 10-7. The 4-0 advantage for the Quakers briefly slowed the Hornets, but Minney and Gast kept the kills coming. Shenandoah countered with an 8-1 extension including kills from Cheyenne Price and Minney along with Guilford mistakes. Although GC received a breather with a SU service error, the Hornets won the set, 25-20.
In the final set, tensions were high as Guilford held a 5-1 edge before Shenandoah scored six of the next seven points to take an 7-6 advantage. The Quakers transcended to a higher level of focus and produced a 7-0 run thanks to a crowd-shaking kill from Amber Chiarolanzio (Deep Gap, N.C.), who also finished with 15 digs, Whisnant who stuffed her opponent with a nasty solo-block followed by a kill, and a kill from none other than Moore. The Quakers had heart in the final set to outlast the Hornets 15-9 to make the final score 3-2.
The Quakers will continue their home-game streak on Jack Jensen Court, facing non-conference opponent Carolina University on Tuesday, October 8th, at 6 PM.
#GoQuakes
Franken Stellar as Women’s Soccer Earns Draw With Bridgewater
Quakers earn first point in conference play in ODAC Tournament rematch
from Bryce Johnson, Director of Athletic Communications
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Laying out to her right, Ady Franken (Peoria, Ill.) sent back a penalty kick attempt by Lyric Birkley, scrambled to her feet and recovered the loose ball, keeping the match scoreless for the Guilford College women’s soccer team in the 64th minute, and that is where the tallies would remain, coming to a 0-0 result against Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) foe, Bridgewater College on Saturday evening at Appenzeller Field.
In a rematch of the ODAC Tournament Quarterfinals match from last November, that also ended in a draw, albeit with the Eagles advancing on PK’s, this contest finished in the same result with GC moving to 6-2-2 on the year, and picking up their first point in the conference standings at 0-1-1. The guests, meanwhile, take their third breakeven result of the campaign at 3-4-3 overall, and also grab a point in league play at 0-1-1.
Franken contributed not just a banner moment, but another banner performance in her collegiate career, completing her fifth shutout of the season, and 22nd of her career to go to 5-2-2 on the year after making six saves on 11 total shots faced. Rylee Asiello matched Franken’s efforts making the two saves she had to on GC’s four shot attempts to move to 2-1-2.
Both of the Quakers’ looks on frame came off the foot of Kylee Berry (Kernersville, N.C.) with Naomi Anderson (Youngsville, N.C.) and Mya Rivera (Parish, Fla.) also attempting a shot each. Birkley had one other shot that was on frame in the match for BC, finishing with two shots on goal. Skyler Daum led all players with three looks at the net, but only one threatened the twine.
Controlling possession early, Guilford got the matches’ first scoring chance when Rivera drew a foul from Katherine King in the sixth minute, granting the home team a free kick from a few inches beyond 25 yardline on the left wing. Berry took the attempt and got good look around the Eagles’ wall, but Asiello laid out to her right to deter the attempt.
The Quakers had another wonderful chance nine minutes later with GC getting their first corner of the contest. Jenna Shotton (Walnut Cove, N.C.) placed the ball right where she wanted, finding the head of Anderson who redirected it towards the net with Asiello merely serving as a spectator. Unfortunately, the opportunity stayed just high, hitting off the crossbar to keep the match scoreless.
Bridgewater got a great chance in the 33rd minute of play. An Ashlyn Miller (Charlotte, N.C.) foul within 18 yards, but to the side of the box gave the guests a free kick from prime positioning with options. The set piece went to King on the weak side, who used her head to send a look on frame, but Franken secured it with ease.
The Eagles outshot Guilford 7-2 in the first half of play, including 5-1 in shots on goal, but it was the Quakers who received more corners 3-2. In any case, neither side could break the stalemate in the opening stanza.
Just over four minutes into the second half, the home team got a nice buildup resulting in an Anderson shot attempt, albeit from a tough angle, that was deterred. This set the stage for Franken’s heroic effort.
On an attack down the left wing, Laura Narby took a shot from near the corner of the 18’, with the ball getting up and off the hand of a twisting Mya Jarvis (Clemmons, N.C.) who got called for a handball in the box despite her best efforts to avoid it. The guests called upon Birkley for the one-on-one look and she tried to go bottom-right, but Franken guessed correctly keeping the game tied.
The PK was just the second of two combined shots on goal by the two squads in second half of play, and while BC held the edge in attempts, 4-2, in the frame, the score still finalized at a 0-0 score.
Now fully into league play, Guilford next makes a trip up to Ferrum College for an ODAC clash on Wednesday, October 9th. First kick is set for 4 PM.
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