MORRISVILLE, NJ - The Rosemont College volleyball team played a tight match tonight against an evenly-matched opponent, with the Ravens defeating the Screaming Eagles of the College of St. Elizabeth (CSE) 3-2 (25-18, 18-25, 25-19, 18-25, 15-10) in a non-conference match. The win is the second consecutive for the Ravens, improving their record 5-8 (0-3 CSAC). The loss was the 4th consecutive for CSE, dropping their overall record to 4-11. Rosemont now holds a 2-1 historic series edge over the Screaming Eagles.
Rosemont jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the first set, but ceded 5 straight points after a CSE timeout to make the score 9-7. The Screaming Eagles pulled to within two points at 15-13, but the Ravens outscored their opponents 10-5 down the stretch to put the first set in the win column for Rosemont.
The second set was similar to the first, except that the points favored CSE. The Screaming Eagles started the set with a 7-1 advantage, from which the Ravens scratched back to within three points at 13-10, but Rosemont could get no closer as CSE extended their lead to tie the match at one set apiece.
Set three was a tight battle between the two teams. After Rosemont jumped out to a 3-0 advantage they extended their lead to 9-2. The Ravens fought back a legitimate challenge from CSE who got back to within one point at 14-13, but Rosemont converted the next five points on Monica Jasienski's (Bishop Shanahan/Philadelphia) serve to take a 19-13 lead from which they held on to take a 2-1 set advantage.
CSE tied the match at two sets apiece in the fourth set. The Ravens came out strong again, continuing their momentum from the previous set, but after going ahead 3-0 the Screaming Eagles scored the next seven consecutive points to take a 7-3 lead and extended their lead to 12-4. The Ravens were able to cut CSE's lead to four points at 19-15, but CSE took control after their timeout to win the set and tie the match.
There was little to separate the two teams early in the deciding fifth set. With the score tied 3-3 Rosemont won the next three points to go ahead 6-3 only to let CSE back into the set. At the side change the Ravens led 8-6. Again, CSE came close to the Ravens but Rosemont showed resolve to pull away from an 9-8 advantage to win six of the next 8 points to win the set and the match, 15-10.
Karen Boyle (Archbishop Prendergast, Swarthmore, PA) led the team with 7 kills and she chipped in with 13 digs. Robin Renodo (Bishop Laughlin/Brooklyn, NY) had 4 kills and Janise Henderson (Sussex Tech/Greenwood, DE) had 3. The Ravens showed strong defensive play with Christa Bednarek (St. Basil Academy/Philadelphia) being credited with a team-leading 17 digs. Rosemont's libero, Camille Pottinger (Bishop Laughlin/Brooklyn, NY) had 15 digs on the night, followed by 12 digs from Monica Jasienski. Henderson led the Ravens with two service aces.
The Ravens return home on Wednesday for a CSAC contest as they host Cedar Crest College. The match begins at 7:00pm.
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