Box Score

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Gettysburg College jumped out to a victory in the opening set in its match with Haverford College for the Centennial Conference championship on Sunday, but the Fords bounced back to win the final three contests en route to their third-straight conference championship.

After Gettysburg (18-11) took the first set 25-17, Haverford (24-6) won the final three contests 25-19, 25-17, and 25-19. In addition to their third overall conference title, the Fords also clinch the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament set to begin next weekend.

Gettysburg took an early lead and led by seven (11-4) on a service ace by freshman Jamie Huffman (Laurel, Md./Reservoir) in the opening set, forcing Haverford to call a timeout. The Bullets continued to hold the edge in the first frame, though the Fords closed to within one point, 17-16, on a kill by Rachel Salvo. That would be as close as the visitors would get as Gettysburg won nine of the next 10 points, wrapping up the opening set with a kill by sophomore Kate Yoder (Emmaus, Pa./Emmaus).

Set number two began as a back-and-forth battle until Haverford turned an 8-8 score into an 18-9 advantage. The Bullets pulled to within four (18-14) on a service ace by junior Amanda Krampf (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg), but Rebecca Salvo stemmed the run with a kill and Haverford held on for the six-point win.

The Fords took over the third set quickly and maintained a six-point advantage throughout, capping the win with a service ace by Kelsey Cantwell. Gettysburg came back in the final contest to take a three-point lead at 10-7, only to have the Fords bounce back and take a two-point lead of the own at 14-12. The Bullets stormed back down the stretch with five-straight points, including a pair of blocks, to grab a 17-14 advantage. After the teams exchanged points, Haverford grabbed the upper-hand with a nine-point spurt before a kill by Rebecca Salvo sealed the championship.

Yoder led Gettysburg with 14 kills, while junior Kristina Mercier (Baltimore, Md./Mount de Sales Academy) posted 11 kills and four block assists. Huffman and senior Meghan McConville (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty) each posted six kills.

Krampf was all over the court for the Bullets, tallying four kills, 36 assists, three aces, and putting up a career-high 31 digs. Junior libero Kristin Kotewicz (Columbia, Md./River Hill) posted 26 digs and a pair of aces, while junior Stephanie Rickabaugh (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) recorded 21 digs and four blocks.

The Salvo sisters did most of the damage for Haverford as the duo combined for 28 kills, 27 digs, and 4.5 team blocks. Franny Glick notched eight kills and 15 digs, while Kelsey Cantwell tallied eight kills and 13 digs. Freshman setter Kate Comey was one off her career-high with 49 assists in the four-set match.