Box Score

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Lauren Thul (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) knocked down a team-high 16 kills and added nine digs as Gettysburg moved closer to a Centennial Conference (CC) playoff berth with a 3-0 win over Swarthmore on Tuesday.

 Katie Heffner (Easton, PA/Easton) also hit double figures with 10 kills for the Bullets, who can clinch a postseason spot with a win against Dickinson next Tuesday or another Garnet loss. Shannan Smith (Milmont Park, PA/Ridley) put up 36 assists on the night, helping Gettysburg (14-9, 7-2 CC) improve to 24-0 all-time against Swarthmore (11-12, 4-3 CC).

 The Bullets got off to a good start, winning 10 of game one's first 12 points thanks to two kills and a block assist from Erica Rau (Oakland Park, FL/Pine Crest). The Garnet battled back to within four on two occasions, the latter coming off an ace by Emily Conlon that made it 21-17.

 Two kills from Thul and one apiece by Caitlyn Barr (Annapolis, MD/Broadneck) and Jayme Massey (Springfield, PA/Merion Mercy Acad.), however, helped Gettysburg ease to a 30-24 victory.

 The Bullets took a 2-0 lead by using a late 14-5 run to turn a 16-12 game into a 30-17 win. Thul knocked down three more kills during the burst and Rau finished a Smith set to close out the game.

 In game three, Swarthmore took leads of 4-1 and 6-5 before the hosts went ahead for good. Massey killed a ball off the net to tie the game at 6 and Thul followed by dropping in a two-handed free ball to give Gettysburg a 7-6 lead. Katie Gold's kill to the deep left corner kept the Garnet within 25-21, but the Bullets used four kills and one attacking error to notch the match's final five points.

 Rau finished the night with seven kills while Margaret Hallahan (Huntingdon, PA/Huntingdon) paced the defense with 18 kills. Steph Vial (Hanover, PA/Delone Catholic) chipped in with 16 digs and three aces.

 The Bullets return to action on Friday against Webster and Heidelberg at the Emory National Invitational. Match times are to be announced.

Gettysburg d. Swarthmore, 3-0 (30-24, 30-17, 30-21)

Gettysburg Leaders
Kills: Lauren Thul 16, Katie Heffner 10, Erica Rau 7
Digs: Margaret Hallahan 18, Steph Vial 16, Thul 9
Assists: Smith 36
Blocks: Heffner 2, Rau 2, Caitlyn Barr 2, Jayme Massey 2
Service Aces: Vial 3