SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The Baldwin Wallace University volleyball team was the runner-up at the Hampton Inn Crusader Classic hosted by Susquehanna University in
Orlando W. Houts Gymnasium.
BW (13-2) opened the tournament on Friday by splitting a pair of matches with Washington (Md.) College and Susquehanna. The Yellow Jackets swept Washington in straight sets by scores of 25-22, 25-21 and 25-17. In the second match of the opening night, BW snapped its 10-match winning streak and also played its first five set match of the season as it fell to the Crusaders by scores of 23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 23-25 and 13-15.
The Yellow Jackets closed out the classic by winning a pair of matches against Misericordia (Pa.) University and York (Pa.) College. BW defeated the Cougars in straight sets by scores of 25-16, 25-10 and 25-8. The Yellow Jackets ended the classic by defeating the Spartans in straight sets by scores of 25-22, 25-14, 25-9.
On the opening night, BW was led on offense by freshman outside hitter
Morgan Thomas (Northfield/Nordonia) with 26 kills, including a team-high 15 against Susquehanna. Freshman outside hitter
Alicia Lortcher (Norwalk) tallied 20 kills, including a match-high tying 11 against Washington. Junior middle hitter
Nikolette Scruggs (Barberton), who was selected to the all-tournament team, contributed 18 kills, including a career-best 11 against Susquehanna. Freshman middle hitter
Lauren Gehring (Wadsworth/Norton) added 14 kills, including a career-high 12 against Susquehanna.
Freshman setter
Ashley Nuding (Perrysburg/Springfield), who was named to the all-tournament team, set up the offense with 81 assists, including a career-best 47 against Susquehanna.
Nuding also had one service ace and had 22 digs on the defensive side.
Freshman libero
Brittany Miner (Canton/Massillon Perry) anchored the defense with 38 digs, including 25 against Susquehanna.
Lortcher contributed 25 digs, including 14 against Washington.
On the final day,
Thomas had 10 kills and
Scruggs added seven against Misericordia.
Lortcher had 11 kills against York.
Nuding set up the offense with 59 assists, including 31 against Misericordia.
Miner anchored the defense with 26 digs.
Gehring had 10 blocks, including a career-best eight against York.
BW is back in action on Wednesday, September 23 when it travels to Cleveland to face cross-town rival Case Western Reserve University for a non-conference dual match in the Horsbough Gymnasium at 7 p.m.
