Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Freshman Francesca Garison (Metuchen, N.J./John F. Kennedy Memorial) totaled 22 kills and junior Stephanie Blair (Chester, N.J./West Morris Mendham) recorded 60 assists and 32 digs as Gettysburg College split a pair of matches on the opening day of the Battlefield Classic.
 
Gettysburg (1-1) cruised to a sweep against Greensboro College (0-2) in the opening round, taking out the Pride 25-10, 25-16, and 25-23. The Bullets opened with two wins against Salisbury University (2-0) before the Sea Gulls mounted a furious rally to top the hosts in five sets 21-25, 26-28, 25-20, 25-21, and 15-11.
 
After dominating the opening two sets against Greensboro, the Bullets trailed by as many as seven in the third set before making a comeback. A kill by Blair off a pass from junior Maddie Weikert (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg) set the stage for match point and Blair returned the favor by setting up her classmate for the winning point.
 
Blair finished with six kills, 21 assists, and 10 digs. Garison tallied eight kills and 10 digs, while fellow first-year Kasey Higgins (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) posted six kills. Junior Katherine Gilbert (Baltimore, Md./Notre Dame Prep) picked up 18 digs.
 
Match two was an all-out battle. Gettysburg opened by rattling off seven of the final nine points to take the opening set. Despite leading 23-20 in set two, the Bullets fell into a tie after a 6-3 run by the Sea Gulls. A service error by Salisbury opened the door for senior Laura Bergin (Charlottesville, Va./Western Albemarle) to knock down the winning kill.
 
Salisbury bounced back in set three, leading nearly the entire set. Gettysburg led by a slim margin for most of the fourth frame, but after taking a 21-20 lead, the Bullets came up empty as the Sea Gulls ran off the final five points. Salisbury jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the fifth frame and did not let the lead dip below two for the remainder of the set.
 
Garison recorded 14 kills and 18 digs, while Blair finished with six kills, 39 assists, 22 digs, and three aces. Higgins tallied nine kills and Bergin finished with eight put downs. Gilbert led the way defensively with 23 digs, while freshman Caroline Sequeira (Millington, N.J./Watchung Hills) picked up 18 digs.
 
Gettysburg continues play on day two of Battlefield Classic with a pair of matches. The Bullets take on Gallaudet University at 10 a.m. followed by Marywood University at 2 p.m.