Box Score

BALTIMORE, Md. – Entering the Centennial Conference (CC) opener at Johns Hopkins on Wednesday night, the Gettysburg volleyball team had put together a stretch of seven straight victories, including tournament titles each of the past two weekends. As 2003 conference play opened, the Bullets (14-5/1-0 CC) picked right up where they left off in 2002 CC play and edged out the Blue Jays (13-6/0-1 CC) in the deciding game 16-14 to extend their streak to eight straight, and win nine out of the last ten.

Wednesday's match marked only the second time all season Gettysburg needed the fifth game to decide a match. The only other time was a loss to Dominican (Ill.) in the season-opening National Invitational at Gettysburg.

Gettysburg was led in the win by junior Jessica Cortese (Lancaster, PA/Hempfield), who recorded a matching 20 kills and 20 digs. Sophomore Shannan Smith (Milmont Park, PA/Ridley) tallied a career-high 56 assists, bettering her total of 54 set Saturday at Catholic. Junior Nicole Barr (Annapolis, MD/Broadneck) added to the attack with 19 kills, while freshman Steph Vial (Hanover, PA/Delone Catholic) contributed 19 digs.

In the deciding game, Gettysburg completed a comeback that saw the Bullets in a 2-1 hole at one point in the match. Johns Hopkins held a 7-2 advantage in the fifth game before Gettysburg notched the next five to knot the game at 7-all. From there, it was back-and-forth the rest of the way. With the Bullets clinging to a slim 14-13 advantage, a side-out gave Hopkins life again knotting the match at 14-all and the serve. A quick side-out by the Orange & Blue gave the Bullets a 15-14 advantage, serving for the win, which they did for the game and match victory.

After dropping the opening game of the match 30-25, the Bullets bounced right back to win a closely contested game two, 30-28. JHU took game three by an identical score to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

Gettysburg bounced right back and cruised in game four 30-20, however, to force the deciding game.

The Bullets return to action on Saturday in a home tri-match with Dickinson and Ursinus. The match against Dickinson begins at 11 a.m. with the Ursinus match to follow at 2 p.m.

Gettysburg def. Johns Hopkins, 3-2 (25-30, 30-28, 28-30, 30-20, 16-14)

Gettysburg Leaders:
Kills: Jessica Cortese 20, Nicole Barr 19. Assists: Shannan Smith 56. Digs: Cortese 20, Barr 19. Service Aces: Smith 2, Michelle Dorsch 2. Blocks: Hillary Prutzman 3.

Johns Hopkins Leaders:
Kills: Stephanie Kaliades 21. Assists: Betsy Baydala 60. Digs: Baydala 22.

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