The Cabrini College women’s volleyball team lost to long-time school rival No. 24 Eastern University on Thursday, Sept. 10 in the Nerney Field House. The Lady Cavs fought a long, hard battle against Eastern but fell short on a 3-1 loss.
Senior setter Lizzie Williams recorded 26 assists during the match and notched six kills on just 10 attempts. Before the start of the match, head coach Eric Schaefer presented Williams with a commemorative volleyball signifying her 2,000th career assist.
“I’m definitely proud of reaching such a milestone,” Williams said. Williams achieved her triumph at the Moravian College Tournament on Sept. 4 against Swarthmore College.
“It really was a team achievement because I wouldn’t have been able to play my position without the passers, and the sets wouldn’t matter without the amazing skills of the hitters.”
Along with Williams’ 26 assists, senior outside hitter Traci Beltz recorded 15 kills for the night. Junior middle hitter Stephanie Recklau also was an impact in the front line, tallying a total of 10 kills for the match.
“Despite the loss, I think that we all came together as a team and played our best,” freshman outside hitter Megan Ryan said, who also chipped in with seven kills for the night.
It was apparent that the women played strong throughout the whole game especially while earning a win in the third set. “We played hard and the fact that we took a game from Eastern really makes me proud,” Alexis Doss, sophomore history major, said.
Overall Doss was a big help both offensively and defensively. Both Doss and sophomore libero, Courtney Abel, controlled the back line claiming a combined 32 digs. Abel earned a club high 17, and Doss reached 15 respectively.
Eastern made it apparent in the first two sets that they were out for a win claiming both sets. They won the first 25-15 and the second 25-18, respectively. In the first set alone, Eastern had a .435 hitting percentage and ended the second with a .375 hitting percentage.
After losing the first two sets, Cabrini came out strong in the third with senior hitter Traci Belts earning a team high six kills. Williams chipped in with seven assists, and Doss and Abel earned seven digs each.
“I feel they [the team] competed to the best of their ability. We went after everything, and we learned that we are capable of anything, despite our loss,” head coach Eric Schaefer said.
After falling short in the third set, Eastern came out with a vengeance in the fourth set and quickly rose to an 8-0 lead. The Cavs fought hard, but in the end the Eagles claimed a 25-14 victory over Cabrini.
“Despite the loss, I think that the team did great. All of the girls played to the best of their ability and did what they could to try and win the game. Even though we didn’t win, taking a game from Eastern just goes to show that we can compete with the best of the best,” assistant coach, Lindsay Martin, said.
