Swarthmore Loses Heartbreaker to Conference Rival Johns Hopkins
SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Freshman Kathryn Montemurro finished with 16 kills in a conference battle against Johns Hopkins, but it wasn't enough as Swarthmore (13-6, 3-1) fell to the Blue Jays 3-2 from Tarble Pavilion on Thursday night. The loss is the Garnet's first Centennial defeat of the season.
Freshman Kathryn Montemurro had 16 kills against Johns Hopkins.
The match was a long battle of heart and determination that carried throughout five sets of play. Defense was a big part of both teams' play as the Garnet had an amazing 111 digs while the Blue Jays had 100.
On offense senior Kearney Bangs and freshman Allie Coleman combined their efforts and carried the Garnet by posting 45 of the squad's 47 assists. Montemurro pelted the Hopkins defense with 16 kills and sophomore Genny Pezzola and Coleman each had nine.
The Garnet were coming hot off of a conference win a week prior against McDaniel and trying to keep their conference win streak to four as they hosted Johns Hopkins. Swarthmore got off to a great start winning the first two sets 25-18 and 25-23.
From that point on it was all Hopkins. A few substitution issues by the Blue Jays seemed to kill Swarthmore's momentum in the second half of the match. Hopkins took the third and fourth sets 25-21 and 25-11.
In the fifth and final set, the two teams went back and fourth until Hopkins rallied for three final points to take the set 16-14 and hand Swarthmore its first conference loss of the year.
Swarthmore will be back on the saddle for another conference showdown on Saturday October 10 when the Dickinson Red Devils come to town. Play begins at 12 PM.