September 11, 2004
WAC Goes 2-3 at Battlefield Classic
Seven Wins in 2004 Most Since 1996

GETTYSBURG, PA -- The Washington College volleyball team went 2-3 at the Battlefield Classic, held yesterday and today at Gettysburg College. The Shorewomen fell to Randolph-Macon, 30-24, 30-21, 30-17, and Scranton, 30-20, 30-22, 30-24, in pool play last night, but came back to win matches over York (PA), 30-26, 30-19, 30-27, and Lycoming, 30-23, 28-30, 15-30, 30-28, 15-12, in pool play today. In today's Gray Bracket Championship match, Washington lost to Salisbury, 30-21, 28-30, 30-11, 30-23. The Shorewomen, now 7-3 on the season, have already won more matches this year than in any season since 1996.

Match Scores
Randolph-Macon 3, Washington College 0 (30-24, 30-21, 30-17) STATS
Scranton 3, Washington College 0 (30-20, 30-22, 30-24) STATS
Washington College 3, York (PA) 0 (30-26, 30-19, 30-27) STATS
Washington College 3, Lycoming 2 (30-23, 28-30, 15-30, 30-28, 15-12) STATS
Salisbury 3, Washington College 1 (30-20, 28-30, 30-11, 30-23) STATS

The Shorewomen opened play at Battlefield Classic against Randolph-Macon on Friday and suffered their first loss of the season. Junior outside hitter Abigail Benson (New London, PA/Avon Grove) pounded down 12 kills against two errors in 21 attempts and tallied nine digs, while junior middle hitter Marcie McConville (Westminster, MD/Westminster) contributed seven kills against one error in 23 attempts, two blocks solos, and two block assists. Senior outside hitter Laura Greenback (Riva, MD/South River) led the Shorewomen in digs with 11, while sophomore setter Laura Shand (Sykesville, MD/Liberty) notched 23 assists.

In Friday night's loss to Scranton, McConville and sophomore outside hitter Nanna Kozemchak (Falls Church, VA/St. Stephen's & St. Agnes) each tallied a team-high four block solos and 11 digs. Kozemchak also shared team-high honors in kills with junior outside hitter Lauren Ford (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) as they finished with six a piece. Ford added three block solos and one block assist. Shand finished with 20 assists, while freshman middle hitter Katherine O'Brien (Severna Park, MD/Severna Park) contributed a team-best 14 digs.

Washington opened Saturday's action with a three-game sweep of York (PA). The Shorewomen committed only five hitting errors during the entire match. Benson tallied 10 kills and one error in 28 attempts, while Ford pounded down nine kills and Greenback tallied six. Shand put up 23 assists and a team-high 14 digs. Greenback and Benson each finished with 11 digs.

The Shorewomen then rallied to defeat Lycoming to advance to the Gray Bracket Championship match. Shand was one kill and one block shy of a quadruple-double, totaling nine kills, 32 assists, 19 digs, and nine blocks (seven solo, two assists). Greenback pounded down 14 kills without an error in 37 attempts, while Benson added 12 kills. McConville contributed nine kills and 18 digs.

In the loss to Salisbury in the Gray Bracket Championship, Benson put up 13 kills, while Ford tallied nine. Shand finished the match with 25 assists, while O'Brien added a team-high 20 digs.

Shand represented the Shorewomen on the All-Tournament team.

The Shorewomen return to action next weekend at the Maryland Division III Tournament, hosted by Frostburg State University. Washington opens play in the tournament Friday with a 3:00 p.m. match against Villa Julie and a 7:00 p.m. match against Frostburg State.