MILLERSVILLE, Pa. (Sept. 1, 2023) – The Rollins volleyball team got the 2023 season off to a fast start, picking up two wins on the first day of the PSAC East Kickoff Tournament. The Tars survived a comeback effort from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the season opener, holding on for a 3-2 (25-19, 25-16, 16-25, 23-25, 15-9) win. The Blue and Gold then capped the day with a convincing 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 26-24) sweep of the host school, Millersville.
RC 3, IUP 2
Jadyn Troutman paced the Tar offense in her Rollins debut, putting down a match-best 20 kills while hitting a match-leading .432 to go along with seven digs and four blocks.
Lana Gerard added 11 kills and seven digs, while
Emma Rome chipped in eight kills.
Natalie Horsley ran the offense, compiling 44 assists in addition to six digs, four blocks, and a match-high three service aces, while
Adriana Lopez led all players with 15 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Set One
- Rollins scored the first four points of the match and quickly ran out to a 9-4 lead.
- The Crimson Hawks battled back with a 7-1 run to go up 11-10, but the Tars responded with a 10-2 spurt to retake the lead and build their advantage to 20-13.
- IUP got back to within four (23-19), but back-to-back kills from Rome closed out the set at 25-19.
Set Two
- The Tars used a 6-0 run to take control of the second frame, turning an 8-7 lead into a dominant 14-7 advantage.
- The Crimson Hawks kept it close until the latter stages when Rollins rattled off the final five points, three coming via Troutman kills, to pull away for a 25-16 win.
Set Three
- A 5-0 burst put IUP ahead by a score of 9-5 early in the third set.
- A 7-1 run for the Crimson Hawks pushed their lead to 16-8, and IUP would go on to win the set, 25-16.
Set Four
- The Tars never led in the fourth set, though they were in it almost the entire way.
- Rollins used a 5-1 run to draw even at 12 before IUP scored five in a row to retake a comfortable lead, 17-12.
- The Blue and Gold continued to fight, with a late 7-1 rally trimming the deficit to a single point at 22-21.
- The Crimson Hawks scored the next two points to earn set point, but the Tars made them work for it, with a kill from Gerard followed by an ace from Troutman getting Rollins back to within a point at 24-23.
- IUP was able to regroup and clinch the set with a 25-23 win, knotting the match at two sets apiece.
Set Five
- Rollins started strong in the fifth, winning six of the first seven rallies, keyed by back-to-back blocks from Emma Begley.
- The Crimson Hawks got back to within three a few times, but the Tars didn't allow them any closer, and the Blue and Gold took the final three points to walk away with a 15-9 set win and a 3-2 match victory.
RC 3, MU 0
Gerard led the way with 13 kills and added 10 digs for a double-double, while Troutman contributed eight kills in the nightcap. Rome added seven kills and five digs and
Makayla Moran chipped in with six kills and three blocks. Horsley racked up 33 assists as the Tars hit .295 for the match, while Lopez tallied a team-leading 14 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Set One
- After falling behind, 4-2, Rollins worked to establish a 12-7 lead, sparked by three straight kills from Gerard.
- Rollins pulled away thanks to a 6-0 run that built the lead up to 23-14, and the Tars took the opening set by a score of 25-19.
Set Two
- The Blue and Gold wasted no time in the second set, scoring seven of the first eight points en route to a 13-3 lead.
- The Marauders were able to cut the deficit in half, getting within five at 16-11, but Rollins was able to cruise to a 25-15 win.
Set Three
- Set three was the most competitive of the match, featuring eight ties and seven lead changes.
- A Troutman kill sparked the biggest run of the set, a 6-0 spurt that saw the Tars turn a 12-10 deficit into a 16-10 lead.
- Millersville quickly answered back with a 6-1 burst to close the gap to a single point (17-16).
- Rollins maintained a slim lead until the Marauders scored three straight points to go up 24-23 and earn their first set point of the day.
- A Gerard kill staved off set point, and back-to-back attack errors, the second of which was caused by a block from Moran and Horsley, closed out the set and match with a 26-24 win for the Tars.
UP NEXT:
The Tars will travel to West Chester, Pennsylvania for the second day of the PSAC East Kickoff tournament tomorrow. Rollins is set to face West Chester at 12 p.m. and Chestnut Hill at 4 p.m.
Fans can follow the Tars all season long at RollinsSports.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest #TARnation news by following Rollins Sports on
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