Box Score
ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann volleyball team opened their invitational over Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) rival Marywood University 29-27, 25-16, 17-25 and 25-19 in the first match of two on Friday afternoon.
It was a match that didn't simulate the typical swagger the Knights portray, which seems effortless at times. But, it was your typical Neumann – Marywood matchup, which is normally that grind it out match.
“I appreciate these types of matches, because we know that we have to find ways to get points, even when we're a little out of rhythm,” said Coach Jespersen.
The Knights were able to rely on the usual suspects to produce, including “hard hitting” Natalie George. George had 11 kills with a whopping .450 hitting percentage. Cecily Scavecchio dished out 36 assist, 11 digs, five aces and one block. Katelin Kuklentz had 11 kills, one ace, four digs and one block. Victoria Limmina stabilized the backline with 15 digs.
With games that are tight and when a team is unnecessarily stretched, there is a need for someone to step up and break the ice and swing the game in their favor. The Knights won the first two matches and conceded the third match to the Pacers. Fast forward to the fourth set, Coach Jespersen dreams came true when she said bippity, boppity boo…..Katie Young appeared and provided the necessary spark on a few pivotal occasions. The first being a block she had in around the sixth point in, recalled Jespersen. She then added kills for the sixth, 12th and 25th points.
The 25th point of the fourth game was one to admire! After a four year hiatus from volleyball, Young would go back to her basketball roots for the 25th point. The Knights ran a play called the “swing attack” or in basketball terms, the “picket fence”, in either case one starts on one side of the setter/wall and gets across the setter/wall for the ball to be fed baffling the defense. The timing has to be perfect and Scavecchio lofted the ball to Young running, leaping and then spiking the ball down the line for the point.
