WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Sophomores Maggie Slawson (Armagh, Pa./United) and Tayler Whitman (New Cumberland, Pa./Cedar Cliff) each posted double-doubles and the fourth-seeded Lycoming College volleyball team hit .328 for the match to down No. 5-seed Widener, 3-1 (25-22, 22-25, 25-20, 25-19), in the first round of the Commonwealth Conference Tournament on Monday night, Nov. 3, at Lamade Gym.
 
The Warriors (18-16 overall) move on to face top-seeded Stevenson in the Commonwealth Conference Tournament semifinal on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. in Owings Mills, Md.
 
Whitman posted 12 kills, hitting .545, and 10 digs to go with five blocks for her third straight double-double while Slawson notched 11 kills, hitting .320, with 12 digs and three aces to help the Warriors reach the Commonwealth Conference Tournament semifinals for the second time in three years.
 
Sophomore Kristine Jahn (Enola, Pa./New Cumberland) finished with 13 kills, hitting .545, to go with three digs and two blocks. Sophomore Lauren Fink (York, Pa./West York) posted seven kills, 12 digs and three aces and freshman Catherine Burger (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) notched six kills, 42 assists, two aces and six digs.
 
The Warriors fell behind 11-7 in the first set, but the Warriors fought back to tie the set at 16 off a kill from Jahn. Lycoming finally took a lead at 18-17 off another kill from Jahn, which helped start a 8-2 rally for the team to take the set, 25-19.
 
After hitting .345 in the opening set, the Warriors hit just .257 in the second set, as Widener (7-24 overall) was able to take advantage en route to a 25-22 win.
 
Lycoming rebounded in the third set, running out to an 11-4 lead after a kill from Burger. The Pride closed within three at 14-11, but could get no closer, as Lycoming built the lead to 24-16 before Widener closed the gap to four points. Whitman finally closed the set with a thundering kill to give the team a 25-20 win.
 
In the fourth set, both teams fought to a tie at 10 before the Warriors got some separation thanks to three straight Pride attach errors. Lycoming never let the Pride back within three points and Lycoming closed out the 25-19 win when Slawson ran a beautifully-placed tip cross court and into the right front corner.
 
The Warriors finished with a solid .328 (54-15-119) hitting percentage while also holding a 56-44 advantage in digs and a 7-5 advantage in team blocks.
 
Widener was led by 14 kills and seven digs from Brooke Ruditys and 13 kills and nine digs from Kaitlin Schnalzer. Sabrina Barbieri posted 33 assists, 11 digs and two blocks and Victoria Miller posted 10 digs.