HARRISONBURG, Va. (BC Athletics) – Bridgewater College women’s volleyball swept Route 42 rival, EMU, to take the first conference win of the season on the road Wednesday night.

Score: Bridgewater (BC) 3, EMU 0
Records: BC (7-1), EMU (3-3)

How It Happened
• In each set, EMU stayed in stride with the Eagles to start the action until after the middle of the set; which then BC got to a rhythm and never gave up the lead. In the opening set, EMU charged to a 6-4 early lead as early attacking miscues from BC took place to kick off play. However, Maecy Ann Frizzelle and Reagan Stoop paired up to lace back-to-back kills to even up the score. From there, the Eagles boosted to a 14-11 advantage and held momentum. Although the Royals hustled back with a four-point rally, the Eagles handled business as Olivia Mason wound back and pummeled the final point to take a 25-22 first set score.
• Once again, the Royals held still and commanded an early 9-6 score. Through small breakups in offensive connections from EMU, BC climbed back into the set with ease. Stoop answered the call with consecutive service aces while Frizzelle and Maya Veselinovic helped ignite a four-point scoring run to leap ahead of the Royals with a seven-point lead. BC succeeded and took the second set, 25-18.
• The Eagles again started off with the opening point, but EMU and BC kept trading point after point until the middle of the set. Claire Griffith punished the ball twice in a five-point run to begin the separation from the opposition. BC remained steady throughout the set and did not lose the lead for the rest of the way. Griffith had the final say and smacked the closing kill to come away with the third set, 25-19, for the sweep.

Match Notes
• Bridgewater led in all offensive categories with 56 points, 44 kills, 10 service aces, and 39 assists.
• First-year Molly Gardner led the team with 11 digs.
• Reagan Stoop produced an all-around performance with nine kills, eight digs, four service aces, one assist, and two block assists.
• Lindsay Kelley posted a single-match season high of 22 assists.

Up Next
The Eagles are back in action for their first home matches of the season as they take on Penn St. Harrisburg and Virginia State on Saturday, Sept. 19.

— BC Athletics —