ST. DAVID'S, Pa. – The Neumann University Women's Volleyball team saw their season come to a close on Thursday night as they dropped a 3-0 decision against No. 1 Eastern University in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Commonwealth semifinals.
The first set started off tightly as neither team held more than a one-point lead until Eastern grabbed an 8-6 lead. They earned the first three-point lead at 11-8 and essentially maintained it until 16-13. From there, Neumann scored four in a row to take the lead for forced an Eastern timeout. The Eagles responded well from the break, finishing the set on a 9-2 run to clinch the win at 25-19.
Eastern kept up the momentum with an 8-3 run to start the second, drawing a Neumann timeout. Both teams then traded short runs until the Eagles had a 14-8 lead. The Knights then scored five of the next six points to get within two. Eastern scored four straight but again, Neumann had an answer with a 6-1 run, making it 20-19 in favor of Eastern. Although the Knights kept it close, trailing 24-23, the Eagles notched the last point for a two-set advantage.
Early in the third, again things started slowly with neither team going on more than a two point until Eastern went off for four straight to lead 10-5. They extended it to 15-8, but Neumann scored four in a row and seven of the next 10 to get within three at 18-15. A stretch of five of the next six but things away for the Eagles as they went on to win the final set, 25-17, and take the match.
Julia Solomon led the offense with seven kills while
Melissa Eddy and
Bri Gautier had six kills each.
Emma Kovacs had 11 assists with
Brielle Nemenzo and
Hannah Strohm contributing 12 digs each.
Neumann ends their first season in the MAC with an overall record 13-14.
