Wang Hits Big In Central NY



CORTLAND, N.Y. - Garnet junior outside hitter Jen Wang (Palo Alto, Calif. / Henry Gunn) posted a team-high 41 kills with two double-doubles as Swarthmore posted a 1-3 record at the 2007 Red Dragon Classic, hosted by SUNY-Cortland this past weekend.

Swarthmore drew SUNY-Fredonia in the first match, falling 3-0 by scores of 30-22, 30-21, 30-26. Wang led the way with eight kills, three aces and 10 digs while junior Erin Heaney (Buffalo, N.Y. / City Honors) added 10 digs. Sophomore Kearney Bangs (Kingston, Wash. / North Kitsap) picked up where she left off last season (8.67 assists per game), posting 30 assists. Senior middles Karen Berk (Havertown, Pa. / Haverford) and Katherine Gold (Cherry Hill, N.J. / Cherry Hill East) combined for 13 kills and 11 blocks.

The next Garnet opponent turned out to be Stevens Tech, the 21st-ranked team in the country. Swarthmore did not back down, taking the first game before falling 3-1 to the Ducks (27-30, 30-18, 30-14, 30-13). Wang put up 10 kills, 12 digs and three aces while Heaney led the defense with 17 digs. Bangs added a double-double of her own with 25 assists and 10 digs while freshman Sarah Lambert (Darlington, Pa. / Blackhawk) contributed 11 digs. Swarthmore will face the Ducks again later this month at the annual Garnet Classic.

Swarthmore drew another tough opponent, Montclair State, in the first match on Saturday. The Red Hawks (1-2), semifinalists in the 2006 NJAC playoffs, used a powerful middle attack to get past Swarthmore 3-0 with game scores of 30-25, 30-24, 30-28. Wang led the Garnet with another double-double, tallying 11 kills, 12 digs and a pair of aces. Bangs collected 24 assists while Heaney contributed a team-high 15 digs. Senior opposite Vanessa Wells (Chicago, Ill. / Lincoln Park) posted nine kills while Lambert, running a 6-2 offense with Bangs, posted six assists and eight digs.

The Garnet (1-3) picked up their first win of 2007 with a 3-0 win over Buffalo State-the game scores were 30-19, 30-17, 30-18. Wang led the way with 12 kills while Gold chipped in 11 of her own. Bangs put together a strong overall performance with 15 assists, four digs, five aces and four kills while Lambert had her best game to-date (19 assists, 15 digs). Berk chipped in with seven kills and three aces.

Swarthmore will make their home debut next Saturday, September 8, in a tri-match with Marymount and Neumann. The first match of the day begins at 11:00 a.m. in Tarble Gymnasium.

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