EAST STROUDSBURG – Trailing 2-0 in the match and by as many as four points in the third set, the East Stroudsburg University volleyball team rallied for a 3-2 (18-25, 14-25, 25-23, 25-16, 16-14) thrilling victory over Bloomsburg on Friday night at Koehler Fieldhouse.
Ali Finch recorded her third triple-double of the season with 11 kills, 43 assists and 29 digs to help the Warriors (6-8, 3-1 PSAC) to their second straight conference victory.
Bloomsburg (7-9, 2-2 PSAC) defeated the Warriors in the first two sets handily and had the lead midway through the third set before a timeout by ESU turned the tide. The Warriors would rally to win sets three and four before finding themselves trailing by four points in the final set. Following a timeout, ESU would score 12 of the next 18 points to close out the Huskies.
Notables
- Finch leads the PSAC and ranks seventh nationally with three triple-doubles
- Senior Jasmine Mooney recorded a team-high 15 kills and added four digs
- Senior Kenzie Guimont and sophomore Sydney Stone each had 11 kills
- Sophomore Claire Choloux posted eight kills, 23 digs and one assist
- Senior Emily Meredith led ESU with 29 digs to go along with two aces
- The Warriors move to 4-0 all-time against the Huskies
How it Happened
- With the score tied at 5-5 to open the first set, Bloomsburg scored nine of the next 11 points to force the Warriors into a timeout. ESU chipped away out of the break as they pulled within two at 16-14, before the Huskies used a 4-2 run, making ESU call their second timeout with the score at 20-16. The stoppage failed to slow down Bloomsburg as they went on to win the set, 25-18.
- The second set started in similar fashion with the scored deadlocked at 4-4 before Bloomsburg went on a 7-1 sprint to take a 11-5 lead. Bloomsburg maintained their six-point advantage throughout the set as they went ahead 18-11 before the Warriors' set timeout. Out of the break, the Huskies maintained pressure on the Warriors as they claimed the set, 25-14, for a 2-0 lead in the match.
- Neither Bloomsburg nor ESU was able to grab much of lead in the third set, but the Huskies used a quick 3-0 run to take a 16-12 advantage, causing ESU to take timeout. The flip was switched for the Warriors out of the break as they scored 10 of the next 14 points to take a 23-20 lead. The Huskies got within one point out of a timeout at 24-23, but a kill by Finch gave the Warriors a 25-23 victory in the third set.
- ESU carried over momentum into the fourth set as they raced out to a 13-7 lead which made Bloomsburg signal for a timeout. Nothing could stop the Warriors though as the powered through another Bloomsburg timeout later in the set to win, 25-16, which evened the match at 2-2.
- In the deciding fifth set, the Huskies were able to recapture their form early as they took a 7-4 lead before a Warriors' timeout. ESU clawed their way back to tie the game on two occasions, but Bloomsburg was out in front, 14-13, with a chance to close out the Warriors. ESU fended off match-point with a kill from Mooney and took the lead after an attack error by Bloomsburg. With a chance to compete the comeback, Stone hammered the ball down the far sideline to secure the 3-2 win for ESU.
Up Next
The Warriors close out Homecoming Weekend tomorrow when they welcome Lock Haven to Koehler Fieldhouse for a 7 p.m. first serve.
