ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Baldwin Wallace University volleyball team won its second tournament championship of the season as it claimed the St. John Fisher (N.Y.) Tournament by winning all four of its matches in straight sets.
BW (13-1), who also won the season opening Bearcat Challenge hosted by St. Vincent (Pa.) College, opened the tournament with a three set victory against Buffalo State (N.Y.) University by scores of 25-12, 25-14 and 25-8. The Yellow Jackets closed out the first day action with a three set sweep against host St. John Fisher by scores of 25-17, 25-18, and 25-13. BW started the second day action with a three set victory against Alfred (N.Y.) University by scores of 25-11, 25-12 and 25-12. The Yellow Jackets claimed the title by sweeping Allegheny (Pa.) College by scores of 25-16, 25-16 and 25-17.
Senior middle hitter Nikolette Scruggs (Barberton) and sophomore All-Ohio Athletic Conference outside hitter Alicia Lortcher (Norwalk) were named to the all-tournament team.
Against Buffalo State, freshman outside hitter Allyson Smith (Macedonia/Walsh Jesuit) led the offense with a match-high 10 kills. Junior outside hitter Ellen Hawkins (Worthington/Thomas Worthington) and Lortcher added nine kills each. Freshman setter Shannon Ott (Milan/Edison) ran the offense with 35 assists. Sophomore setter/defensive specialist Ashley Nuding (Perrysburg/Springfield) anchored the defense with nine digs.
In the match with St. John Fisher, Scruggs sparked the attack with a career-best tying and match-high 14 kills. Lortcher tallied nine kills while Hawkins and Smith each added seven. Ott had 33 assist to set up the offense. Senior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC libero Arlayna Newcomer (Norwalk/St. Paul) and Lortcher led the defense with 11 digs apiece. Nuding contributed 10 digs.
Against Alfred, Lortcher led the offense with 12 kills while Smith and Hawkins tallied nine and seven, respectively. Ott put the offense in motion with her 34 assists. Newcomer anchored the defense with 13 kills and Lortcher added 10. Sophomore middle hitter Jordan Diels (Paris/Minerva) recorded a career-high tying four blocks.
In the match with Allegheny, Lortcher led the offensive attack with a match-high 15 kills. Hawkins added 14 and Scruggs tallied 12. Ott ran the offense with 40 assists. Newcomer anchored the defense with 22 digs.
BW returns to action on Wednesday, September 21 when it hosts cross-town rival Case Western Reserve University in the Ursprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center at 7 pm. The Yellow Jackets conclude tournament action on Friday and Saturday, September 23-24 when they travel to Hanover, Indiana to compete in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference and OAC Crossover at Hanover College.
