EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. -- The East Stroudsburg University women's volleyball team battled back after dropping the opening set to defeat the Shepherd Rams in four sets Friday evening. Set scores were 14-25, 25-22, 25-17, and 27-25.
The Warriors extended their win streak to seven matches and have not dropped more than one set in any of their last seven matches.
Jadyn Orava led the Warriors with 19 kills and 21 total points. Kelly Crites added 12 kills and five service aces, while Rylee Ruggiero recorded 11 kills. Defensively, Harry Berry totaled six blocks, including two solo blocks. Kyra Bishop contributed three kills, one service ace, three total blocks, and 45 assists.
Set 1: The set began close, with the Rams holding just a two-point lead at 6-4. Shepherd then used a 5-0 run to take an 11-4 lead. Kills from Orava and Ruggiero stopped the Rams' run, however, Shepherd extended its lead to 11 points at 18-7. A kill from Orava and a Bishop service ace brought ESU within 10 at 24-14, but a final kill gave the Rams the first set, 25-14.
Set 2: The teams traded points to open the second set, with neither team gaining more than a two-point lead until the Warriors used a 6-1 run to take an 18-15 advantage. The Rams tied the score at 19-19, but ESU responded with a kill from Berry and a block by Ruggiero and Berry. The Warriors used a kill and two Shepherd errors to take the second set, 25-22.
Set 3: The Rams took the opening point before ESU responded with an early 4-0 run. Another 4-0 run by the Warriors, highlighted by a kill from Crites, back-to-back service aces from Crites, and a kill from Orava, put ESU ahead by eight, 12-4. Three consecutive kills from Orava extended the Warriors' lead to 10 points at 16-6. The teams traded points, with ESU holding a 23-14 advantage before the Rams went on a 3-0 run. A Ruggiero kill and Orava service ace then gave ESU the third set, 25-17.
Set 4: The teams traded points to begin the fourth set before the Warriors used an early 5-0 run to take a 9-4 advantage. A 7-0 run by the Rams gave them the lead at 13-12, before another 5-1 run extended Shepherd's advantage to four at 19-15. The Warriors rallied to tie the score at 21-21 following an attacking error by the Rams. The teams continued to trade points, with Shepherd holding a 25-24 lead before a kill from Bishop tied the score at 25-25. A service ace by Crites gave ESU the advantage before an Orava kill sealed the set, 27-25.
Up Next
The Warriors close out their home stretch against the Shippensburg Raiders tomorrow, Oct. 3, with a 2 p.m. start.
