GBC Volleyball Splits Matches at Bloomfield Tri-Match

Lightning Lose 3-1 to Bloomfield, Defeat Mercy 3-1

Freshman Stephanie Kline (above, middle) had a season-high 10 digs to help the Lightning defeat Mercy. (File Photo)

BLOOMFIELD, N.J. – The Goldey-Beacom College volleyball team split matches on Sat. afternoon at the Bloomfield College tri-match. The Lightning first lost to the host Bloomfield, 3-1 in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play, but then avenged an earlier loss this season to non-league opponent Mercy with a 3-1 win in the second match.

After the 1-1 day, GBC is now 5-12 overall. Bloomfield (2-0 for the day) improved to 6-8, and Mercy (0-2 for the day) fell to 3-13.

Sophomore Catherine Howard and junior Rebecca Stoffer both were exceptional in the middle, recording 16 and 13 kills during the two matches, respectively and together combining for nine blocks. Also, senior captain A.J. Hicks was outstanding from her defensive specialist position with 33 digs for the afternoon.

Junior Roni Shaner and sophomore Monica Dempsey split setting responsibilities as Shaner registered 29 assists and Dempsey had 24.

Match 1: Bloomfield 3, GBC 1

Middle hitters Howard and Stoffer combined for 13 kills and Hicks had a team-high 17 digs, but the Lightning struggled offensively, hitting -.07 percent as a team en-route to a 3-1 loss to the host, Bloomfield.

GBC, which fell to 0-9 in the CACC, dropped the first two sets 25-14 and 25-12, then won the third set 25-18, but unraveled again in the fourth set and lost 25-9.

Dempsey, who took a season-high 22 attack attempts, also pitched in with eight assists, two service aces and 10 digs, while Shaner had a team-high 11 assists, two kills and six digs. Stoffer was the third Lightning player in double-figures for digs, as she had a season-high 11 for the match.

Bloomfield was led by Dominica Spivey (8 kills) Da'Cheray Thomas (8 kills) and Uerequenia Pereira (7 kills, 12 digs, two service aces). Gabriella Betoni directed the offense with 34 assists and four service aces and Brittany Devries led the Lady Deacons defensively with 21 digs.

Match 2: GBC 3, Mercy 1

Shaner (10 kills, 18 assists) and Dempsey (16 assists, 14 digs) each registered respective double-doubles and Howard delivered a career-high nine kills to lead the Lightning to a 3-1 victory.

GBC avenged a 3-1 loss at Mercy back on Sept. 4 by coming back from down a set to win the match, 19-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-18.

Shaner, who now has two double-doubles on the season, also had seven digs and three service aces as she moved three aces away from tying Tessa Snyder ('06) for third on the school's all-time list.

Dempsey, who again tied her season-high with 22 swings, tallied a season-high eight kills to go with her double-double in assists and digs while also collecting two service aces.

Howard and Stoffer were very effective in the middle again. Howard's career-high nine kills came with just one error on 22 attempts (.364 hitting percentage) and she also added three solo blocks. Meanwhile, Stoffer had seven kills on 30 swings with just one error (.200) and added season-highs of five blocks.

Freshman Stephanie Kline got in on the act defensively in a big way for the Lightning, as she pitched in a season-high 10 digs as the third GBC player with double-figure digs. Hicks led the Lightning with a game-high 16 digs.

GBC returns to the court on Tues. night to host CACC foe Holy Family at the Jones Center at 7 p.m.

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