Sports

Sarah Lawrence Splits Doubleheader

Sarah Lawrence fell to Cooper Union, 3-0, before recovering to defeat Hudson Valley Men's Athletic Conference opponent Webb Institute, 3-0.

Thanks to Sarah Lawrence College Sports Information Director Paul Blascovich for the following:

It was a mixed day for the Gryphons as Sarah Lawrence College men's volleyball split its two matches in a doubleheader at Noyes Court at Campbell Sports Center on Saturday. Sarah Lawrence fell to Cooper Union, 3-0, before recovering to defeat Hudson Valley Men's Athletic Conference opponent Webb Institute, 3-0.

With the win, the Gryphons guaranteed themselves solidified a meeting with St. Joseph's College Brooklyn in the semifinals of the 2013 HVMAC Volleyball Championship, hosted by Yeshiva University on April 11.

In the Gryphons' match against Cooper Union, Sarah Lawrence (4-15, 2-3 HVMAC) led out to a 7-1 advantage in the opening set, but the Hawks hung tight, went on a 5-0 run and finally leveled the score at 19-19. Cooper Union's momentum earned the visitors eight of the last nine points of the 25-20 set.

The second set saw Cooper Union win six unanswered points to start the set, but Sarah Lawrence rallied back with a streak of 10 consecutive points. The Hawks regained the lead with five straight points to go up 18-16 but the Green and White again equalized at 20-20. Once again, Cooper Union's consistent play late in the set lifted the Hawks to a 25-21 set.

The third set again played back-and-forth en route to a 20-20 deadlock. Three straight Gryphon errors proved fatal as Cooper Union picked up the 25-22 set to complete the sweep.

Sarah Lawrence sophomore Harrison Holmes (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Webb School) led all players with 17 kills while libero Riley Smith (West Linn, Ore., Palo Alto (Calif.)) shared a match-high nine digs. Setter Brent Terry (Crownpoint, N.M., Idyllwild Arts Academy) assisted on 23 kills and had seven digs.

Cooper Union's attack was led by Andrew Tam with 11 kills, while Matthew Lee scooped up nine digs. Setter Jonathan Ostrander posted 29 assists.

In Sarah Lawrence's match against Webb (0-8, 0-5 HVMAC), an intense duel saw 14 ties and five lead changes in the opening set. With the score tied at 23-23, the team's exchanged points back and forth until a Webbie ball-handling error handed the Gryphons a 28-26 win. Holmes totaled 11 kills in the set.

The Green and White scored six straight points to take an early lead in the second set, and the Gryphons managed to hold on to the lead thanks to four kills by sophomore Ishaan Pujari (Bangalore, India, Inventure Academy). Terry closed out the set with a service ace for the 25-20 win.

Holmes' powerful attack landed 12 kills in the third set, while Webb's attack faltered with only six kills. Eleven unanswered points put SLC up 11-1, and despite a 6-1 run by the visitors, Sarah Lawrence clinched the sweep with a 25-19 set.

Holmes finished the match with a season high 26 kills, five more than the Webbies totaled as a team. Terry had his second double-double of the year, picking up 12 digs with 34 assists. Smith led all players with 16 digs in the match, while rookie Cameron Rudd (Portland, Ore.) matched his season high of three blocks.

Webbie Cody Owen also notched a double-double, leading his team with 10 kills and 11 digs.

Sarah Lawrence concludes its home schedule with a tri-match on Sunday. The Gryphons will play host to Albertus Magnus College and Medgar Evers College beginning at 11 a.m.


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