BUFFALO, N.Y. –The Baldwin Wallace University volleyball team went undefeated in the month of September for the first time in school history as it closed out non-conference action with a pair of victories against Grove City (Pa.) College and Alfred State (N.Y.) University in the College Center Gymnasium on the campus of D'Youville College
BW (23-0), who only dropped six sets all month, defeated Grove City (6-11) by scores of 25-13, 25-13 and 25-11 and then beat Alfred State (5-8) by scores of 25-11, 25-6 and 25-10.
Against Grove City, junior two-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference outside hitter Alicia Lortcher (Norwalk) led the offense with 10 kills. Senior All-OAC right side hitter Ellen Hawkins (Worthington/Thomas Worthington) and sophomore outside hitter Allyson Smith (Macedonia/Walsh Jesuit) each tallied eight kills. Freshman setter Kathleen Egan (Cleveland/Beaumont) ran the offense as she passed for 31 assists. Freshman libero Sarah Reinhard (Willoughby/South) anchored the defense with 13 digs. Lortcher tallied 12 digs and freshman defensive specialist Jasmine Hromada (Lorain/Elyria Catholic) added 11 digs.
In the match with Alfred State, Hawkins led the offensive attack with seven kills. Freshman utility player Jessica Laney (Navarre/Fairless) contributed a career-tying five kills. Egan set up the offense with 16 assists while freshman setter Abby Cosart (Lima/Bath) added seven assists. Lortcher led the back line with six digs while freshman utility player Sam Pruett (Bolivar/Tuscarawas Valley) had four digs.
With her 13 kills today, Lortcher moved into ninth-place on the all-time career kills list with 1,024 kills passing Lisa Richter (1982-85). She needs 41 kills to pass BW Hall of Famer Sarah Gordon (2000-02) for eighth place with 1,064 kills. Lortcher is also six digs shy of becoming the 15th player in school-history to achieve 1,000 career digs. She will become just the fifth player in school history with both 1,000 career kills and digs and the first since Gordon.
BW returns to OAC action on Tuesday, October 3 when it hosts the University of Mount Union in Ursprung Gymnasium at 7 p.m. Fans can follow all of the action live at http://www.bwyellowjackets.com/x/ytvf5