GLASSBORO, N.J. – The Gettysburg College volleyball team improved to 7-0 for the first time in eight seasons with a pair of victories on the opening day of the Rowan University Invitational Friday night.
 
Gettysburg defeated Widener University 3-1 (25-14, 25-6, 26-28, 25-15) and Keystone College (25-15, 25-18, 25-11). It's the team's best start since opening the 2009 campaign 8-0.
 
In the opening set of the day against Widener (1-6), the Bullets erased an 8-4 deficit with a nine-point run. Back-to-back kills by freshman Allie Stranick (Havertown, Pa./Merion Mercy) closed the streak and put the team up 13-8. Another six-point run shortly after  put the set out of reach.
 
The momentum carried over to the second set as Gettysburg turned in its biggest win of the campaign. The Bullets hit 16 kills with just one error in 28 attempts for an attack percentage of .536 in the frame. Widener rebounded in the third set, surviving match point three times to pull off a 28-26 win.
 
Gettysburg capped Friday's opener by blowing open a close set with a 16-3 finishing run.
 
Senior Katherine Gilbert (Baltimore, Md./Notre Dame Prep) led the defensive effort with a match-high 27 digs. Senior Maddie Weikert (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg) posted nine kills and 18 digs, while sophomore Melissa Tringali (Cold Spring, N.Y./Haldane) put up 10 digs.
 
Offensively, Stranick finished with her sixth double-double of the season with 15 kills and 11 digs. Sophomore Kasey Higgins (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) recorded 14 kills. Senior Stephanie Blair (Chester, N.J./West Morris Mendham) dished out 37 assists to go along with three aces.
 
Gettysburg blew past Keystone (2-3) in the second contest. The Giants came away with a negative attack percentage as the Bullets totaled 66 digs and six team blocks. The Bullets trailed 14-13 in the second set before a 12-4 run.
 
Stranick posted eight kills and 14 digs, while Gilbert added 18 digs out of the back row. Weikert came up with six kills and 14 digs.
 
Gettysburg continues action at Rowan with a pair of contests on Saturday. The Bullets take on Dickinson College in a non-conference match at 10 a.m. followed by a meeting with the host Profs at 2 p.m.