Box Score

ANNVILLE, Pa. – With three of the four sets coming down to a margin of three or fewer points against a team undefeated in Commonwealth Conference play, the Lycoming College volleyball team showed a lot of poise, but Lebanon Valley was able to post a narrow 3-1 (27-25, 22-25, 14-25, 25-23) win at the LVC Gymnasium on Wednesday night, Oct. 16.
 
Even with the loss, the Warriors (19-9 overall, 4-4 Commonwealth) clinched a berth in the Commonwealth Conference Tournament for the third straight year, as 3-2 win by Alvernia over Arcadia gave Arcadia a sixth conference loss and gives Lycoming the tiebreaker over both teams with five conference losses (Widener and Albright, who both fell to the Warriors). The Warriors will serve as the No. 5 seed for the second straight year, as they lost to both remaining teams with five wins (Messiah and Elizabethtown), and will open the tournament on the road on Monday, Nov. 4.
 
The Warriors were led by 12 kills, seven digs and four blocks from senior Shelby Gear (Rochester, N.Y./Gates-Chili) and 11 kills and three blocks from sophomore Bethany Richardson (York, Pa./West York). Richardson crossed 600 career kills with her eighth of 11 kills.
 
Senior Katelyn McKillop (Mount Pocono, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) added 39 assists, a season-high 24 digs and two aces. Junior Amber Seibel (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) added 24 digs and three aces. Freshman Lauren Fink (York, Pa./West York) added seven kills, nine digs and two blocks.
 
In the first set, the Flying Dutchmen took an 18-14 lead, but the Warriors fought back late, warding off three straight match points and then securing their own match point after a LVC attack error made it 25-24. However, the Dutchmen closed the set with three straight points.
 
In the second set, neither team had more than a three-point advantage and after a tie at 22, the Warriors closed out the last three points, with Richardson notching a kill and Seibel posting her second ace during a five-point run.
 
The Dutchmen took a 19-9 lead in the third set and were able to close out the 25-14 win. The Warriors fought back in the fourth set, though, taking a 19-15 lead after a pair of kills by freshman Kristine Jahn (Enola, Pa./Cumberland Valley). However, the Dutchmen used a 10-4 run to close out the win.
 
Alli Quirk led the Flying Dutchmen (21-3 overall, 7-0 Commonwealth) with 16 kills and five blocks. Kayla Confer added 12 kills and Greta Weidemoyer notched 11. Kacey Musselman posted 44 assists and 16 digs and Allie Garrett added 19 digs.
 
The Warriors get back on the court on Monday, Oct. 21, when they wrap up the conference season by playing at Arcadia. First serve is set for 7 p.m.