BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University volleyball team served up their 2018 campaign over the weekend when they played in the 16th annual Greyhound Premiere Invitational, hosted by Moravian, in Bethlehem Pennsylvania. The Yellow Jackets played well securing three victories and only losing one match.
Baldwin Wallace vs. Moravian (Pa.)
The first match went smoothly for the Yellow Jackets with Moravian making the first set a close contest at 26-24. BW attacked with ferocity in the first set tallying 14 kills and a hitting percentage of .243.
After the first set came down to the wire, the Yellow Jackets played well in the second set defeating Moravian with a score of 25-15. Claiming the lead early with a six point start, the Yellow Jackets never looked back. Moravian was able to close the lead to three points but couldn't get the necessary points past the Yellow Jackets defense. Sophomore Sarah Reinhard (Willoughby / South) led the team with 19 digs for a team total of 54 over the three sets.
Moravian claimed the lead to start the third set, but the Yellow Jackets would not be deterred, battling back to reclaim the lead after an 8-8 tie. Amassing 39 assists in the third set, BW found their rhythm offensively. The Yellow Jackets never looked back and closed out the third set with a final score of 25-18.
Baldwin Wallace vs. Wesley (Del.)
Freshman Ivy Earl (Howell / Howell) set the Yellow Jackets up for success in match two, totaling 14 assists in the three sets. BW had full control of the first set, defeating Welsey (Del.) 25-11. The kills were spread out evenly between the Yellow Jackets with Earl and Mary Zurbrugg (Alliance / Alliance) leading the way with four each.
Set two was much of the same for BW as they cruised to a 25-8 victory, and the Yellow Jackets had 96 assists over the three sets. The Yellow Jackets controlled the final set finishing up Wesley 25-10.
Baldwin Wallace vs. Ursinus
The Yellow Jackets continued their great play onto Saturday with an opening victory against Ursinus College. BW took the first set 25-11 behind senior Alicia Lortcher's (Norwalk / Norwalk) six total kills. Ursinus made the second set a little closer with 15 points to the Yellow Jackets 25, but the 54 total digs by BW proved insurmountable. Jessica Whitehead (Wyoming, Mich. / Wyoming), Taylor Gimenez (Attica / Seneca East), and Lortcher each had a solo block, marking three total over the match. BW went on to seal the final set with a final score of 25-18.
Swarthmore (Pa.) vs. Baldwin Wallace
Swarthmore was the only loss for the Yellow Jackets over the weekend. BW sealed the first set with a final of 25-19. Isabella Moskowitz (Brighton, Mich. / Brighton) and Taylor Brown (Maple Heights / Maple Heights) led BW defensively with four solo blocks a piece. BW fell in the second match 25-19 and made the third match a nail biter with a final of 28-26, but could not surpass Swarthmore. The final set was back and forth, but BW could not find the crucial point to overcome Swarthmore's lead. BW fell 25-22 to close out the Greyhound Invitational.
The Yellow Jackets will be in action again this Wednesday when they play a double-header against Waynesburg (Pa.) University and La Roche (Pa.) College in Latrobe, Pennyslvania at La Roche.
