October 23, 2002
Shorewomen Top Garnet in Thriller
Benson Serves Nine of Team's 20 Aces

CHESTERTOWN, MD -- The Washington College volleyball team recorded its first home win and its first Centennial Conference win with a thrilling 22-30, 30-19, 30-26, 27-30, 15-10, victory over visiting Swarthmore this evening. The Shorewomen improve to 4-22 overall and 1-7 in conference play, while the Garnet Tide slips to 5-15 and 1-4.

The Shorewomen led the first game 10-6 early on, but Swarthmore took control wityh a 12-3 spurt that put the Garnet ahead, 18-13. WC rallied to within one point at 22-21, but Swarthmore scored eight of the final nine points to win the game. In the second game, the Shorewomen used a 14-3 spurt to go up 21-12 and cruise to the 30-19 win.

WC won a tight third game when sophomore outside hitter Laura Greenback (Riva, MD/South River) pounded down a kill for the 30-26 win. The fourth game saw the score tied no fewer than 15 times before Swarthmore scored the game's final four points to force a decisive fifth game.

Swarthmore scored first in the fifth game, but a sideout tied the score 1-1. Freshman outside hitter Abby Benson (Avon Grove, PA/Avon Grove) then served eight straight points, including four aces, to give WC a commanding 9-1 lead. The Garnet cut the lead down to three twice, second time at 13-10, but a sideout and an unreturned serve from WC freshman middle hitter Marcie McConvile (Westminster, MD/Westminster) won the match for the Shorewomen.

In, all the Shorewomen finished with 20 service aces, including nine from Benson and four from Greenback. Greenback had a solid all-around night, recording a team-high 14 kills and scooping out 11 digs. Benson finished with seven kills to go along with her nine aces. Senior middle hitter Katie Froning (Kennett Square, PA/Kennett) pounded down nine kills with just one error and tallied three solo and four assisted blocks. Junior defensive specialist Lindsay Tegeler (Baltimore, MD/Mt. Carmel) finished with 19 digs. McConville tallied nine kills and two solo and three assisted blocks. Senior setter Amy Milauskas (Ellicott City, MD/Seton Keough) contributed 16 assists and 11 digs, while junior setter Katie Orga (Wilmington, DE/Ursuline Academy) tallied 10 assists. Junior outside hitter Theresa Pyzik (Baltimore, MD/Mercy) notched seven digs.

The Shorewomen will play at Dickinson College in an 11:00 a.m. Centennial Conference tri-match this Saturday against the host Red Devils and Bryn Mawr.

WC STATS