October 3, 2015

Grove City sweeps Westminster, downs W&J in Dig for the Cure tri-match

GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Grove City College volleyball team earned a pair of important Presidents' Athletic Conference matches to improve to 6-3 in league play, sweeping nearby-rival Westminster and defeating Washington & Jefferson in four sets during the Wolverines' "Dig for the Cure" tri-match in the Grove City College Arena on Saturday afternoon.

The Wolverines (8-11, 6-3 PAC) earned a 25-7, 25-20, 25-17 victory over the Titans (6-18, 4-6) in the first match of the day before rallying from a first-set loss to defeat the Presidents (9-7, 5-4) 20-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-9. W&J defeated Westminster in five sets in the middle match of the day.

In the opener against Westminster, the Wolverines jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a dominant 25-7 victory in the first set. Sophomore Jamie Robatisin (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) pounded four kills in the set and also served three of five Grove City service aces. The Titans would challenge in the second set, leading as late as 20-19 on a kill by Lexie Yoho, but sophomore Hannah Foster (Sugarcreek, Ohio/Garaway) would even the score with a kill and senior Libbie Casey (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) served for five straight points, including a pair of aces, to close out the 25-20 victory in set two.

Grove City opened the third set with an ace by senior setter Amy Trageser (Marriottsille, Md./Chapelgate Christian) and a pair of kills by senior Natalija Galens (Covert, Mich./Grace Christian) to jump out to a quick 3-0 lead and wouldn't look back. Westminster would keep the match close, but a Casey kill at 16-13 would spark a 7-0 Wolverine run, and Grove City would then hold on for the 25-17 victory.

Robatisin led the Wolverines against the Titans with nine kills while freshman Laura Buchanan (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) added eight kills. Galens posted seven kills and a team-high 13 digs while Foster added six kills with no errors on 12 attempts.

Trageser and freshman setter Allie Schmid (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) each posted 16 assists and three aces while junior libero Jessica Althausen (Asheville, N.C./Asheville Christian) contributed 11 digs. Casey and Robatisin also each added three aces, and Casey led the team with three blocks.

In the nightcap, the Wolverines got off to a slow start against W&J, as seven attack errors and four other errors plagued them in a 25-20 first set loss. Grove City would respond in the second set, however, as Buchanan smashed five kills to help the Wolverines even the match at a set apiece with a 25-22 victory.

Galens would pound four kills and Casey and Buchanan three each as the Wolverines took the third set 25-19, and, in the fourth set, Grove City would jump out to a 9-1 lead and cruise from there en route to a 25-9 victory to end the match.

Galens led the Wolverines with 12 kills and just one error on 24 attempts and also posted a team-high 19 digs against the PResidents. Buchanan matched Galens with 12 kills and added three blocks while Robatisin posted nine kills, 12 digs and six blocks. Sophomore Ariella Carter (Avon, Ohio/Hearts for Jesus Christ) led the Wolverine defense with a career-high eight blocks to go with six kills.

Trageser posted 26 assists and added 13 digs while Schmid added 16 assists and 11 digs for the Wolverines. Sophomore Beka Russell (North Canton, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian) tied for the team lead with 19 digs.

Grove City steps away from conference play on Monday to travel to Penn State Behrend for a 7 p.m. match.

Westminster Box Score    W&J Box Score

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